Would thiis trade make sense for the Los Angeles Lakers?
For the Los Angeles Lakers, the benefit is simple. They would get another perimeter thread who has experience on some good teams in the postseason. This is already a win but there are other factors that come into play.
It is no secret that LeBron James has liked to have shooters on the perimeter during his time in the league. He is one of the best passers in the NBA and can penetrate a defense at will. Eric Gordon can make teams pay for helping on James’ drives while also being capable of attacking off the catch when needed.
The Lakers would benefit from Gordon’s ability to serve as an initiator at times. He can thrive running high ball screens or DHOs while also being a capable threat in off-ball screening actions, all of which would add to the team’s half-court offense.
When Westbrook was acquired in the offseason trade from the Washington the Wizards, the Lakers traded away some defensive anchors such as Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. This has severely impacted the team and Gordon could step in and fill a void.
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If nothing else, Eric Gordon is an elite shooter that could bring even more leadership and an experienced veteran looking to win if acquired in a trade. If the package is Horton-Tucker, it makes sense for the Lakers to pull the trigger because of the path of the franchise on.