The Los Angeles Lakers are going to try their hardest to make changes to their roster this NBA offseason. It would be smart for them to go back to the tried and true formula when it comes to finding success on a roster built around LeBron James.
They looked to be on that path last season when they were discussing a trade to bring in Buddy Hield from the Sacramento Kings. But, Rob Pelinka pivoted at the last minute, exhausting all of the team’s assets to acquire Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards.
On the surface, the thought process behind the deal makes some sense. Westbrook was viewed as a third star that could carry the team when James or Anthony Davis wasn’t on the court. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out like that.
The Lakers had a disastrous 2021-22 season as they didn’t even qualify for the NBA Play-In Game. This roster needs a complete overhaul and the front office needs to turn over every stone figuring out a way to get them back on track.
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Capped out, they won’t be big players in free agency. But, sign-and-trade is always a possibility should someone want to land with the Los Angeles Lakers. While extremely unlikely to occur, someone such as Jalen Brunson would be a perfect target for the Lakers.
Brunson has shown throughout this season that he can be a reliable go-to player for a team. He stepped up when Luka Doncic was sidelined during the regular season and took his game to another level in the playoffs when Doncic missed time with a calf strain.
The bright lights aren’t something that Brunson shies away from. He has scored at least 23 points in all five games against the Jazz, putting to bed any worries about his performance in the playoffs last season. Brunson is someone that won at the highest level collegiately at Villanova as well, so it was only a matter of time until he found his footing in the NBA.
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That is the kind of player that the Lakers need more of on their roster. It is championship or bust for the purple and gold and that is pressure not everyone can handle. As long as James is on the roster, they are going to try and compete for titles and Brunson would certainly help them achieve that goal.
At this stage in his career, Jalen Brunson is a much better fit alongside James and Davis than Westbrook is. While not as dynamic of an athlete, Brunson is a much more efficient scorer. He has made 49.4 percent of his shots overall in his career and is a 37.3 percent 3-point shooter.
In Los Angeles, Brunson would play a similar role to what he is doing alongside Doncic in Dallas. James would be the main facilitator, but Brunson is more than capable of carrying the load as the lead playmaker should the need arise.
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Another hurdle that will be difficult for the Lakers to get over in a sign-and-trade is matching salary. Los Angeles has only two players, Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn, that have salaries more than the veteran’s minimum but less than max money.
Matching salaries is nearly impossible as there is virtually no way that the Dallas Mavericks would take on Westbrook in a trade. It has also been reported that Dallas has no intention of helping facilitate a sign-and-trade deal involving Brunson.
While Jalen Brunson possesses the skill set that would be a great fit, it seems like an unrealistic move for the team. They can pursue him in a sign-and-trade all they want, but unless Brunson is willing to sign a deal well under what his market value looks like it will be, it is very unlikely that Brunson lands with the Los Angeles Lakers.
