Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal 

By contrast, the Lakers won’t be maximizing any lottery odds in 2022-23. In fact, they don’t even own their own pick. 

If they did, it’s hard to say where this franchise would even stand at the moment. Since they don’t, it’s easy to pinpoint the location – with their backs firmly against a wall. 

This deal could help them fight their way back to contention. After all, Russell Westbrook’s inability to play alongside LeBron James was clearly an issue for this team in 2021-22. Here, they land two players who are tailor-made for that job. Both Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic will complement James as elite floor-spacers. 

Jordan Clarkson may not be as clean a fit, but as a long-time sixth man, it may not matter. The Lakers could maximize the time he spends on the floor without James. Even then, he’s not as unreliable a shooter as Westbrook. Clarkson will fit, if imperfectly. 

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For a team in the Lakers’ position, that’s about the most they can hope for.