One NBA writer is proposing that the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Fred VanVleet from the Toronto Raptors this summer.
Sean Davi of Bleacher Report proposed that the Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell and a 2027 second-round pick to the Raptors for VanVleet.
“When we are talking about Fred VanVleet, I need to make this very, very clear,” Davi said. “We are only doing this deal if Fred VanVleet picks up his player option, right? Because if Fred VanVleet does not pick up his player option, then it’s a double sign-and-trade, which ultimately hard-caps both teams. And I don’t think the Raptors will wanna hard-cap themselves for D’Angelo Russell and I don’t wanna hard-cap myself for Fred VanVleet.”
Davi did an outstanding job breaking down VanVleet as a player. The one-time All-Star, who signed a four-year, $85 million contract with the Raptors in November 2020, averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists this season while shooting 39.3% from the field, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 89.8% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
VanVleet is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, the same agent who represents Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
“Fred VanVleet, high volume on-ball player that is great in ball screens,” Davi said. “93rd percentile in terms of ball screen usage. 70th or so percentile in terms of efficiency out of ball screens. 35.0% catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter this year. You would need that number to get back to the number it was in the 2021-22 season, which was around 40.2% on catch-and-shoot opportunities. So that’s the number you need it to be.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Russell becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. He played so poorly in the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets that many people around the NBA believe the Lakers need to move on from the Ohio State product.
D’Lo averaged only 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 32.3% from the floor and 13.3% from 3 versus Denver, who swept Los Angeles in the conference finals.
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