Los Angeles Lakers Add 2 Key Veterans
Houston Rockets Receive: C Mason Plumlee, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Gordon Hayward, G/F Eric Gordon
Charlotte Hornets Receive: G Russell Westbrook, 2029 First-Round Pick
Speaking of desperate contenders…
This deal features three teams in three vastly situations. The Lakers, of course, are the aforementioned desperate contender. Of course, calling them a contender feels a little disingenuous. After all, the Lakers won 34 games in 2021-22.
Regardless, any team rostering LeBron James has a shot at the NBA championship. The Lakers badly need to make large changes. This deal has them doing so. Hayward is the type of floor-spacing secondary playmaker they should have always been targeting.
Meanwhile, Gordon is an elite floor-spacer with ample experience supporting elite playmakers. This one checks out for the Lakers.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets & Charlotte Hornets Updates
It should work for the Hornets as well. If it doesn’t, it’s because they’re trading a center, which is a position of need for them. Nonetheless, getting off Hayward’s contract and landing a valuable first-round pick is worth the tradeoff. They can likely find a replacement for Plumlee in free agency, and give rookie Mark Williams a more significant spot in the rotation in the meantime.
Finally, the Rockets project as comfortably the worst team in this group. Therefore, moving a veteran for a first-round pick is an obvious choice for them.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets & Charlotte Hornets Updates
Moreover, they could use a backup big man behind soon-to-be sophomore Alperen Sengun. Whether they opt to give Plumlee that role, or sit the veteran for the year. Either way, they’re in it for the pick.
