One NBA writer is proposing that the Los Angeles Lakers acquire Keldon Johnson from the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster trade. Lee Tran of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Lakers and Spurs:
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Keldon Johnson
San Antonio Spurs Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis, 2029 First-Round Pick
Johnson averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season while shooting 45.2% from the field, 32.9% from beyond the arc and 74.9% from the free-throw line. The 23-year-old recorded five double-doubles and led the Spurs in points per game.
Johnson has career NBA averages of 16.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 224 games with the Spurs. The Kentucky product signed a four-year, $74 million rookie-scale extension with San Antonio in July 2022. Johnson will make $20 million next season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Keldon Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
“This could definitely be one of those difference-making trades for the Los Angeles Lakers, that could really take them to the next level,” Tran wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Keldon Johnson is an underrated player in today’s league, and he would get much less defensive attention on the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 3 option. That would end up helping him be more efficient and allow him to focus on defense himself, and playing in a two-way role next to a superstar is likely the right role for him on a championship-level team.”
The Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Los Angeles re-signed Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura and added Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince and Jaxson Hayes this summer. The Lakers also signed Anthony Davis to a three-year, $177 million extension.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Keldon Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers & San Antonio Spurs Updates
The Lakers could start Reaves, Johnson, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Davis if this trade pitch Tran came up with goes through. Los Angeles saved its season in 2022-23 by making multiple trades. It will be fascinating to see if that happens again in 2023-24.
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