According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers could attempt to trade for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell or Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young this summer.
“The Lakers currently have only one future first-round pick available to trade, but starting on the day of the NBA draft, they’ll have three: 2031, 2029 and either 2024 or 2025, depending on whether New Orleans chooses to use the 2024 pick it previously received from L.A. or defers it to the next draft,” McMenamin wrote. “The Lakers have discussed internally the possibility of packaging three picks, along with players they already have on their books, to pursue a bona fide star, such as Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers or Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, team sources told ESPN.”
Young has the same agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group) as Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Oklahoma product will make $43 million next season.
Meanwhile, Mitchell will make $34.8 million next season. He has a player option worth $37.1 million for the 2025-26 season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The last time the Lakers made a blockbuster trade, they acquired Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in August 2021. That deal backfired, as LAL went 56-74 with Westbrook in the lineup. Westbrook was traded by the Lakers to the Utah Jazz last season and the purple and gold reached the 2023 Western Conference Finals after moving Russ.
Mitchell and Young would be better fits next to LeBron and Davis than Westbrook since they are good shooters. Westbrook wasn’t a good fit next to Davis and LeBron since he’s not a reliable shooter. Westbrook shot only 29.7% from beyond the arc as a member of the Lakers.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Young’s teammate, Dejounte Murray, could be traded to the Lakers this season, sources told NBA Analysis Network. If LAL doesn’t acquire Murray, it will be fascinating to see if Mitchell or Young land in Hollywood in the summer.
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