Detroit Pistons x Los Angeles Lakers | Trade Explanation

There are rumblings the Lakers are targeting a Bojan Bogdanovic deal with the Detroit Pistons.

(via Sports Illustrated's Howard Beck)

I think it’s a mistake to view any potential trade as “championship-or-bust.” If that’s the standard for trading your picks, you’ll never make a deal. I don’t think there’s any single trade out there—now or in July—that will assure the Lakers of title contention. But the basic formula of LeBron + AD + shooters/quality role players at least gives you a chance at a meaningful playoff run. That is what they should be aiming for. And maybe that will be the case. I’ve heard the Lakers and Pistons have discussed a deal that would include both Bogdanović and Nerlens Noel. Since the Pistons are demanding draft assets in any deal for Bogdanović, it’s sort of a given that the Lakers would have to surrender a first-round pick to make a deal. Maybe they make a second deal to fortify the rotation further...

The Lakers are only a few games within .500, so the season is not yet lost. Even with Anthony Davis out, and LeBron James struggling from three, they could still secure a play-in spot if they play their hand the right way this deadline.

Los Angeles Lakers x Minnesota Timberwolves x San Antonio Spurs | Trade Explanation

This is a trade that allows the Lakers to capitalize on the little assets they have to trade while still getting an improvement in return. Sure, it might not be a massive improvement, but it would be an improvement nonetheless. For the price of a second-round pick, the Lakers could swap Patrick Beverley for Josh Richardson, who at his best would offer a very similar dynamic to this team that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope did two years ago.

The Timberwolves could get Patrick Beverley back in the building to try and turn this season around with his veteran leadership. Not only that, the team would be getting someone to help with the bad floor spacing in Doug McDermott, who is under contract for another year.

For the Spurs, this is a classic salary dump in which they are trading multiple salaries (one of which has one more year) for an expiring contract that they will pay less than half of. If Russell is bought out, it will be even less.

The Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup After The Trade

PG Alec Burks

SG Lonnie Walker IV

SF Bojan Bogdanovic

PF LeBron James

C Thomas Bryant

The Los Angeles Lakers Bench Rotation After The Trade

PG Dennis Schroder

SG Austin Reaves

SF Josh Richardson

PF Wenyen Gabriel

C Nerlens Noel

The San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup After The Trade

PG Tre Jones

SG D'Angelo Russell

SF Keldon Johnson

PF Jeremy Sochan

C Jakob Poeltl

The Detroit Pistons Starting Lineup After The Trade

(Max Christie - Reserve)

PG Russell Westbrook

SG Jaden Ivey

SF Saddiq Bey

PF Isaiah Stewart

C Jalen Duren

The Minnesota Timberwolves Starting Lineup After The Trade

PG Patrick Beverley

SG Anthony Edwards

SF Jaden McDaniels

PF Kyle Anderson

C Rudy Gobert

The Minnesota Timberwolves Bench Rotation After The Trade

PG Austin Rivers

SG Jaylen Nowell

SF Doug McDermott

PF Taurean Prince

C Naz Reid