The Los Angeles Lakers’ run in the 2023 NBA Playoffs came to a screeching halt in the Western Conference Finals. They were swept by the Denver Nuggets, who are advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
While losing in that fashion is certainly disappointing, there are some positives to take away from the team’s run. No one expected the Lakers to make that deep of a run, finishing as the No. 7 seed in the conference. They defeated the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors before being defeated by the Nuggets for some hard-fought series.
The most important thing for the purple and gold right now is to figure out the future of LeBron James. He is contemplating retirement, which was a shocking thing for a lot of people to hear. His final goal as a professional basketball player was to suit up alongside his son, Bronny, but after 20 seasons, he may be changing his mind.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Regardless of how things go with James, this offseason is an important one for the Lakers. They showed just how close they are to being a contender again when healthy and will be looking to upgrade their roster to get back to that level.
What kind of moves could Los Angeles look to make? Two trade targets were suggested by Mike Cruz of ClutchPoints that could be acquired by using the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft as a bargaining chip.
The first player mentioned was Buddy Hield. Hield is someone that the Lakers have been close to acquiring in the past, as they had a deal nearly completed with the Sacramento Kings before Rob Pelinka pivoted to a deal with the Washington Wizards to acquire Russell Westbrook.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
He eventually landed with the Indiana Pacers as part of the trade package, along with Tyrese Haliburton, in exchange for Domantas Sabonis. Hield is an elite volume 3-point shooter and would be a perfect fit alongside James and Anthony Davis as the Lakers lacked consistent shooters.
The second player mentioned as a potential trade target is a familiar face; Alex Caruso. Caruso left during the 2021 offseason, signing a free agent deal with the Chicago Bulls. His two-way skill set has been missed in Los Angeles.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
With Austin Reaves, who many feel was Caruso’s replacement, hitting free agency and putting himself in line for a massive contract, the Lakers could be on the lookout for a new combo guard. Caruso is someone that fits in well and excelled in his role alongside James and Davis once before and should be able to do it again. If the opportunity arose to acquire him, Pelinka should jump at it.
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