Why the Trade Benefits the Los Angeles Lakers
Any deal involving a star to create a big three in Los Angeles is a win for the Lakers. They are clearly a team that is capable of winning a championship as they have already shown, so going all-in to pull it off again is the best course of action. This makes John Collins an intriguing trade target.
The Lakers have built the best duo in the league with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The focus for this offseason has been to surround them with depth— adding pieces like Dennis Schroder, Monrezl Harrell, Marc Gasol, and Wesley Matthews.
The rim protection Davis brings to the table would help to cover up some of Collins’ deficiencies guarding in space. Meanwhile, they would form a dominant rebounding duo while being interchangeable in pick-and-roll situations as a screener and floor spacer for LeBron James.
The Lakers would also benefit from having Collins as a restricted free agent next offseason— allowing them to match any offer that is provided to him. Los Angeles would have his Bird rights and that’s important since Harrell could opt out of his player option and depart.
