2 Trade Targets Emerge As Lakers’ Top Kyrie Irving Backup Plans

Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

The Los Angeles Lakers have been pretty active thus far this NBA offseason despite not having much spending power. Their game plan this offseason is a complete 180-degree change from how they went about things last year.

Los Angeles focused a lot of their effort on signing older veterans to fill out their roster, which didn’t turn out to be very positive. This offseason, the Lakers have looked to bring in younger players that have yet to find their niche.

They used part of their mid-level exception to sign Lonnie Walker IV away from the San Antonio Spurs and Damian Jones back from the Sacramento Kings. Troy Brown Jr. signed a veteran’s minimum deal, leaving the Chicago Bulls. Juan Toscano-Anderson did the same, leaving the champion Golden State Warriors for the Lakers.

All four of those players are in their 20s, with Toscano-Anderson being the oldest one at 29 years old. Los Angeles is not done making deals yet, as they have been part of numerous trade rumors.

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Kyrie Irving has been a popular name mentioned for them, as the mercurial point guard will eventually be on the move from the Brooklyn Nets. But, if Irving proves to be unattainable, the Lakers have contingency plans in place.

“If Kyrie doesn’t work out, they have plans in place — or plans they hope they’ll be able to execute — to achieve shooting on that roster in other directions. Whether that be a veteran like Buddy Hield, who they almost got on last year on draft day and you see Indiana just traded away Malcolm Brogdon and there could be more moves to come, or perhaps a guy like Eric Gordon in Houston. Those guys aren’t Kyrie Irving, of course, but they are players they feel they may be able to acquire to help their team.”

Buddy Hield is someone that the Lakers have looked into acquiring previously, as he was almost in the purple and gold last offseason before they pivoted to the Russell Westbrook deal. He would be a great fit alongside the Lakers’ Big 3 given his excellent volume 3-point shooter.

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With the Indiana Pacers being in a rebuild, Hield could very easily be on the move. The Houston Rockets are in a similar rebuilding position as well, which makes Eric Gordon a potential trade candidate as well.

Gordon would bring some 3-point shooting to the roster as well. He also puts immense pressure on defenses with his consistent downhill attacking of the rim. Los Angeles could certainly use more players capable of creating offense for themselves, especially with Malik Monk departing in free agency and signing with the Kings.

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The Los Angeles Lakers doesn’t have much to offer in trade packages, but Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and a first-round pick are likely what they would try sending out in a deal.

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