Trade F LeBron James to the New York Knicks for F OG Annunoby, C Mitchell Robinson, and G Tyler Kolek. Explanation: LeBron is my GOAT. LeBron is a top 10-15 player in the NBA right now. LeBron can absolutely be a high level contributor on a championship team. However, the reality is that LeBron is also forty years old. The Lakers need to get younger and retool for a championship around Luka. LeBron is among the few real assets that they have. LeBron wants to win a championship. This makes sense for both sides. The Lakers return (in my opinion) the absolute best 3 and D player in the NBA in OG Annunoby, as well as a legit backup big in Mitchell Robinson. Also Tyler Kolek, who exists. OG is a perfect fit next to Luka, and while I don’t believe Robinson is the long term answer at center (more on that later), he can absolutely play in the revolving door the lakers currently have at center. As for the Knicks, with Indiana and Boston out of the running in the East, they can make a win now push and win the east, if not the finals. Leon Rose has shown that he is willing to make star pairings, and I think this is definitely a move that the Knicks could make.
Initiate three team trade. Lakers receive GF Jaylen Wells, C Kel-El Ware, and the swap rights to Orlando’s 2029 first round pick protected for selections 1-2 (via Memphis). Grizzlies receive G Austin Reaves. Heat receive F Brandon Clarke and Orlando’s unprotected 2030 first round pick (via Memphis). Explanation: Austin Reaves is a great young player, but he doesn’t really fit next to Luka as another offense-only/cone-defensively ball-dominant guard. It makes sense to trade him now before they have to pay him. In return they get Jaylen Wells, who is a competent role player and floor spacer, the exact kind of guy who can fit next to Luka, and Kel-El Ware, who is a lob threat, floor spacer, and rim protector. He fits next to Luka, makes non-shooters like Jarred Vanderbilt playable, and is young enough to be a long term answer at center. They also get a first round pick which can be used for future transactions. As for the Heat, while Ware undoubtedly has high upside, he is stuck behind Bam Adebayo for the foreseeable future. By giving him up, they get a high value first round pick, as well as a competent role player in Brandon Clarke. For the Grizzlies, it’s just a math problem. They gave up Desmond Bane for 4 first round picks and two role players. They now get a better version of Desmond Bane in Austin Reaves, while only giving up two role players and two picks. They upgraded their roster and netted two first round picks. Absolute masterclass of an off-season. The Lakers revamped rotation now looks like this: PG: Luka Doncic, Gabe Vincent, Bronny James SG: Jaylen Wells, Dalton Knecht, Jordan Goodwin SF: OG Anunoby, Jake Laravia PF: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt C: Deandre Ayton, Kel-El Ware, Mitchell Robinson
Expectations: The Lakers hover between the 3-5 seed for most of the season heading into the trade deadline. Their newly improved roster leads to a far more effective defense, but they lack the scoring punch of a second star. OG does his best to pick up the slack, pitching in an efficient 20 points per game, but most of his energy is expended guarding the other team’s best player night in and night out. Despite this, the Lakers are on a winning streak coming into the trade deadline, largely off of the hot shooting of Dalton Knecht, who has blossomed with the Lakers now having lineups that can cover his defensive weaknesses.
At the trade deadline, the Lakers trade C Mitchell Robinson for F Zeke Nnaji, G Tim Hardaway Jr., and Denver’s 2031 first round pick. This clears what has become a bit of a logjam for the Lakers at center, and while Nnaji likely gets waived or salary dumped, Tim Hardaway Jr. can be a shooter off the bench, as well as a veteran voice in the locker room. Not to mention the first round pick, which is the gem of the trade. The Nuggets do this because with Jonas Valunciunas leaving for Greece, they still don’t have a backup center for Jokic, and with one they can be legitimate title threats in the west.
The Lakers finish the season as the 4 seed in the west, behind the Rockets, Nuggets, and Thunder. Luka wins his first MVP, with Jokic getting snubbed again. They get a rematch with the Timberwolves in the first round, and while it is a hard-fought seven game series, the Lakers prevail thanks to having an actual center, as well as OG making Ant’s life hell. They lose in six to the Thunder in the next round, but everyone can tell something is being built in LA. They now have three tradeable first round picks to package for the next star that becomes available, and Luka looks better than ever with his defensive weaknesses mitigated. The Lakers are posed to be legitimate title contenders for the rest of Luka’s prime.
Let me know what you think in the comments, and thank you for reading that huge block of text 😅.
P.S. I showed Tim Hardaway Jr. as a FA signing because Fanspo hasn’t updated with him on the Nuggets.