Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Los Angeles Lakers

Getting rid of Talen Horton-Tucker may not seem ideal for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they view him as a major asset moving forward, but Luguentz Dort is a guy with just as much upside as THT and can play immediately, making an impact defensively.

In the NBA Bubble last season, Luguentz Dort averaged 9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals and shot 34.4% from the floor in 7 seeding games. While his stats will not blow you away, his impact on the defensive end of the court is what made Dort a player many people are high on moving forward. 

His offensive skill-set will develop over time, but his on-ball defensive instincts are something that cannot be taught. He already possesses high-level defensive tendencies and for the Lakers, this could be very beneficial not just now, but moving forward into future seasons.

Anthony Davis has established himself as one of the best interior defenders in the NBA and if Dort can continue to improve as a defender, he has the potential to be one of the better perimeter defenders in the league given his quickness and length against smaller guards. With these two, the Lakers could potentially have a strong defensive rotation in their efforts to win back-to-back titles. 

Moving forward, this Lakers team may be set up for championships now, but three to four years down the road, when LeBron James could be ready to retire, the Lakers will need young talent they can look to immediately to keep them near the top of the league. Dort could definitely be one of those guys down the road that they turn to be an impact player for this team.

If the Thunder are willing to listen to offers for Luguentz Dort, the Lakers should try and be at the front of the line to try and acquire the 21-year old guard. He has the potential to be a great young player in the league for a long time and could be the defensive player they need on the wing now to repeat as champions.