How This Deal Impacts Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are desperate to add some talent to the roster. They know that the clock is ticking on building a winning roster around LeBron James and should be all-in. That means having a willingness to trade away their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks.
While they were hoping to land an All-Star caliber player with those picks, such as Kyrie Irving, that is not something that will happen right now. Waiting until the regular season to make a deal could be too late, as it will take time for players to gel.
Parting ways with Russell Westbrook is likely their No. 1 goal for the remainder of the offseason. While they have spoken about adjusting roles and trying to make things work, if the 2021-22 season wasn’t enough of a sample size to show that things just don’t work, what will?
This deal with the San Antonio Spurs may not land them an All-Star, but it brings in three players who could all make an argument about being starters and will upgrade the rotation.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Doug McDermott is an excellent 3-point shooter that would thrive playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Josh Richardson is the kind of two-way player that Los Angeles was missing after they traded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Washington Wizards.
Richardson, paired with Patrick Beverley, would give Los Angeles a strong perimeter duo to rely on. With Davis and, in this scenario, Jakob Poeltl also being in the lineup, the Lakers would have above-average defenders at every position around James. Poeltl has developed into one of the best defensive centers in the NBA and would be an excellent pick-and-roll partner offensively with his efficiency.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
This trade lengthens the rotation for Darvin Ham, providing them depth across the board, looking more like the roster that won the NBA Finals in the Orlando Bubble in 2020 than the team that was on the court last season.
