The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be overdue for some major roster changes. The results have been reflected in their underwhelming 0-3 start to the 2022-23 NBA season.
The lack of execution the Lakers have experienced offensively to start the season has been stagging. They have produced just a 97.2 offensive rating, which is by far the worst in the NBA, with the second-worst being the LA Clippers (103.0).
One area has stood as problematic for the Lakers, in particular: Perimeter shooting. Los Angeles is shooting just 25-118 (21.2 percent) on these attempts. They don’t have a single player who has attempted over five total 3-point attempts shooting even 30.0 percent from deep. More shooters are needed. Who could they pursue?
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs have held ‘preliminary discussions’ about a trade involving Josh Richardson ‘in recent weeks.’
“The Lakers have also held preliminary discussions with the Spurs in recent weeks, sources said, showing interest in three-and-D wing Josh Richardson. The 6-foot-5 Richardson has averaged nearly 13 points to start the season, shooting 47.1 percent on 5.67 three-point attempts per game.”
To begin the 2022-23 season, Richardson is averaging 11.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from 3-point range. He’s been a helpful veteran for the rebuilding Spurs, but he’s playing on an expiring contract and doesn’t fit their timeline.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Josh Richardson, San Antonio Spurs & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Richardson wouldn’t result in a transformation offensively directly, given he’s largely just a 3-and-D guard that can do a little bit off the dribble. However, the main benefit would be addition by subtraction from ending the Russell Westbrook disaster and playing more through LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers have also been linked in trade rumors to Terry Rozier as a target they’ll monitor as the Charlotte Hornets try to make do with a shorthanded roster. If things go south, could they also get Gordon Hayward?
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Josh Richardson, San Antonio Spurs & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Indiana Pacers have Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to pursue, but those efforts have left the Lakers empty-handed in the past. Could they re-vist these discussions?
The San Antonio Spurs remain a potential option with other veterans like Doug McDermott and Jakob Poeltl to pursue. With the Spurs having a substantial amount of remaining cap space, the Lakers could create a substantial trade exception by engaging them as a trade partner.
