Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G RJ Barrett, F Obi Toppin, G Alec Burks, C Nerlens Noel
New York Knicks Receive: C/F Anthony Davis
This feels like a rebuilding package. Would the Los Angeles Lakers trigger a rebuild with LeBron James on their roster?
Not exactly. Entering his fourth season, RJ Barrett may find himself ready to take a final leap. Averaging a reasonably efficient 20.1 points per game this season, he’s already a high-level producer. Playing alongside LeBron James could be an invaluable experience for the recent lottery pick.
At 24, Obi Toppin could be due for a leap as well. He’s certainly armed to the teeth with athletic gifts. Two years into his NBA career, he’s leveraged them to become a better defender than expected. He’s fallen a little short on the other end, but with his positional versatility, he could thrive as the small-ball 5 in “death lineups” featuring James at the 4.
Meanwhile, Burks and Noel are not merely throw-ins. The former is exactly the type of 3-and-D wing that maximizes James’ gifts. The latter makes up a decent portion of Davis’ rim protection while providing LeBron with a solid pick-and-roll measure.
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If these deals feel like desperate measures on the Los Angeles Lakers’ side, that’s because they are. Sometimes you take those when you fall upon desperate times.
