Indiana Pacers Receive: G/F Talen Horton-Tucker, G Kendrick Nunn, F Stanley Johnson, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G/F Buddy Hield
There’s another downside in trading Irving, outside of his unpredictable nature. In order to do so, the Los Angeles Lakers will likely have to part with significant draft capital.
After all, outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook is the only player on this roster with a comparable salary to Irving’s. As much as Irving’s trade value has sunk, Westbrook alone won’t fetch him. The Lakers would need to trade every pick they legally can to make it happen.
On the other hand, they can hold some assets in a Buddy Hield trade. We know he’s a player they value: remember, the Lakers had a trade for Hield completed with the Sacramento Kings before they tabled it in order to acquire Westbrook.
This deal has them correcting history to an extent. If they’re keeping Westbrook, Hield’s elite floor-spacing becomes particularly valuable. On the other hand, even if they’re not, he’s still an ideal supporting piece to put alongside LeBron James.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving Trade To Los Angeles Lakers Matter Of ‘When’ Not ‘If’
After all, a contender can never have too much floor-spacing. Hopefully, that’s a lesson the Lakers learned after 2021-22.
