Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Jevon Carter, F DeAndre’ Bembry
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G Rajon Rondo, G Wayne Ellington, LAL 2023 2nd Round Pick
The Los Angeles Lakers did a nice job of surrounding their star players with key veteran talents in the offseason, but so far, things have not gone according to plan. Obviously when LeBron James gets back, things will begin to ease up in Los Angeles and they will look like the force we all expected them to be, but it could still take time for this roster to develop chemistry.
At full strength though, it is hard to see where Rajon Rondo fits into the picture. The Lakers learned early on that he cannot play with Russell Westbrook seeing as their two styles of play contradict one another on the floor and when Kendrick Nunn returns from injury, Rondo will be pushed even further down the depth chart.
Rajon Rondo is a great player and likely a Hall-of-Famer, but his role on this team right now is very situational. Some days he could see 10-20 minutes and others, he could simply not play at all! The same can be said about Wayne Ellington pertaining to the Lakers at full strength.
Ellington is nothing more than a three-point shooting threat and having guys like Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk and Austin Reaves, the Los Angeles Lakers will not be able to play everyone all the time.
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Both Rondo and Ellington could revert to reserve roles, which is why they are expendable to Los Angeles. In Brooklyn however, both Rajon Rondo and Wayne Ellington could see their roles increase.
The Brooklyn Nets could definitely use another experienced facilitator and playmaker with Kyrie Irving out indefinitely and outside of Joe Harris, they really do not have any reliable three-point shooters on the wing. Patty Mills is a great three-point shooter in the backcourt, but Ellington could fit in nicely next to Durant and Harden.
Jevon Carter and DeAndre’ Bembry are end-of-the-bench guys in Brooklyn right now, but given their defensive nature, they could be the tough guys Los Angeles is missing on their roster. As mentioned before, missing Alex Caruso is really hurting this Lakers team right now because of all the “dirty work” he did for them.
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Jevon Carter could easily fill this role given the chance and he really is a positionless player because of his toughness. For a small price, the Los Angeles Lakers could get themselves a young, versatile guard who can fill this “3-and-D” role they so desperately need in their backcourt.
The only question that remains though is whether or not Brooklyn is willing to trade Carter or Bembry for that matter. The Brooklyn Nets intentions in trades this season are unknown and they may very well be happy with the roster they have.
