THE LAKERS DREAM TRADE

Do not look now, but December 15th is just around the corner. With that in mind, this offseason’s full array of NBA free agent signings will become eligible for shipment. Per usual, all eyes will be on the Los Angeles Lakers. More specifically, everyone will have their sights set on Rob Pelinka and the front office to see what they have up their sleeve.

Last season, the trade deadline came and went without any transactions. However, we all recall the heist that this front office pulled off prior to the 2023 trade deadline (Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba).

There are a number of high quality candidates available on the open market for the front office to consider: Zach LaVine, Brandon Ingram, Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Malcom Brogdon, Lonzo Ball, Myles Turner, Robert Williams and Jonas Valanciunas to name a few. But regardless of their expansive list of options, there is a single swap that this organization should really be shooting for in it’s quest to turn things around (currently lost 7 of their last 9 games).

LAKERS GET: CAMERON JOHNSON ($22.5 MILLION) + DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH ($14.9 MILLION)

NETS GET: D’ANGELO RUSSELL ($18.7 MILLION) + RUI HACHIMURA ($17 MILLION) + JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO ($3.9 MILLION) + 2025 1ST-ROUND PICK + 2027 1ST-ROUND PICK + 2029 1ST-ROUND PICK SWAP + 2025 2ND-ROUND PICK + 2027 2ND-ROUND PICK + 2030 2ND-ROUND PICK

In the exchange, the team picks up not 1 but 2 of the association’s most steady 3&D swingmen. Both Johnson (6’8”, 210 lbs) and DFS (6’7”, 220 lbs) have the frames to hold their own at the power forward position, as well as the athleticism to provide high quality minutes at the 3 spot. They are both high level shooters, with Johnson at 43.1% from deep this year (39.6% for his career) and Finney-Smith not far behind him at 42.2% this season (35.8% for his career). And while Johnson is not quite on the same level as DFS reputation-wise defensively, he is by no means a slouch on the less glamorous end. And at their ages (28 and 31, respectively), they should continue to contribute at/above their current levels for at least the next 5-10 seasons.

The Lakers depth chart needs an injection of shooting, toughness, and defensive versatility. When you look around the rest of the league, there is not another non-3/4 team package that lands the purple and gold with as much of what they need on the wing. Sure, they could go out and pick up a third star in LaVine and Ingram, but they would be forced to sacrifice some depth in order to do so.

In pulling the trigger on this package, the Lakers could/would unlock a greater version of their current version.