Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Los Angeles Lakers
The only two reasons why this trade makes sense for the Lakers is because they would be able to free up cap space to potentially bring in another superstar talent next offseason and because JJ Redick can get hot late in the season and be the best three-point shooter come playoff time.
If there’s one thing we know about the Lakers front-office and GM Rob Pelinka, is that they are always trying to make moves to set this team up for short-term and long-term success. Now, with them chasing titles, their focus is not as much on the future, but they are always looking a season ahead.
Los Angeles has been linked to several big-time talents like Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine in NBA trade rumors, but as things stand right now, the Lakers would not be able to make a trade to form a new “Big 3” because of their financial hardships. With them not wanting to get rid of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Dennis Schroder or Montrezl Harrell this year, the Lakers have close to no cap space to play around with, which is why getting Redick could be beneficial.
He is owed $13M this season, but is in the final year of his contract and gives the Lakers an opportunity to make some noise next offseason. Dennis Schroder is also in the final year of his contract so the Lakers could potentially have $28M to spend next offseason if they were to make this trade, or they could use the financial flexibility JJ Redick gives them to re-sign Schroder to a long-term deal.
On the other side of things, JJ Redick can also help the Lakers win another championship now. He has struggled to begin the season and is just 25-84 from downtown this year, but he is an All-Time great three-point shooter in the NBA and will figure things out.
Come playoff time, Redick will likely be averaging 36% from three-point range, which is not near his career average, but he could breakout in the playoffs and emerge as the best three-point shooter out of the 16 teams left fighting for a championship. Giving up KCP would be hard for the Lakers, but there are some possible pro’s in doing so.
Ultimately, this is a lateral move for the Lakers and as a result, they would probably hold off on trading away Kentavious Caldwell-Pope because of how valuable he is to this team. His teammates love him and he gives it his all when he is on the court, which is why he could once again be a difference-maker in them winning back-to-back titles.
