Why Los Angeles Lakers Do This Trade
The Los Angeles Lakers currently have 13 players under contract for the season. Rajon Rondo signed with them after agreeing to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. That filled one of the holes the Lakers were looking to address heading into training camp as a third point guard.
The other hole they had was on the wing, which Mychal Mulder would help fill. Mulder has played in 67 career games with the Warriors, 60 of which came during the 2020-21 season.
He averaged 12.8 minutes per game and showed some shooting prowess. He made 39.7 percent of his 3-point attempts last season, making 1.4 out of his 3.6 attempts per game. That 3-point shooting is something that the Lakers can’t get enough of after how much they struggled in 3-point shooting last season.
Mulder would provide them with more depth on the wing and another emergency option to run the offense as he is listed as a small forward/point guard.
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Trading Gasol away would result in the center spot being a little spotty. Dwight Howard is the only other true center on the roster behind him, but Anthony Davis is capable of filling in some minutes there.
Some big men, such as Paul Millsap and DeMarcus Cousins, are available in free agency as well. Los Angeles is also the front runner for DeAndre Jordan should he secure a buyout from the Brooklyn Nets.
