Lakers acquire six-time NBA All-Star in blockbuster trade prediction

How will the Los Angeles Lakers' roster look next season?

Just weeks removed from getting throttled in five games at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first-round playoff series, the Lakers find themselves with more questions than answers heading into a pivotal summer for general manager, Rob Pelinka and co.

Despite just landing in Los Angeles a few months ago, Doncic is only guaranteed to be a Laker for one more season as he has a $46 million player option that he'll need to decide on, next summer. Doncic's perhaps murky future coupled with 40-year-old LeBron James potentially considering retirement, Rob Pelinka doesn't have any time to waste in attempting to surround his two MVP-caliber stars with enough talent to be convinced to stick around.

Is Pelinka's idea to surround Doncic and James with viable role players and enough depth to compete at a high-level, or will he swing for the fences to try and bring in another All-Star to pair with his dynamic duo?

In a proposed deal from NBA Trade Rumors, the Lakers would trade some of their depth in order to acquire a former six-time NBA All-Star as well as addressing their biggest glaring need...a viable starting center.

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Demar Derozan, Jonas Valanciunas

Sacramento Kings Receive: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, 2031 First-Round Pick (unprotected)

For the Lakers, a starting lineup of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Demar Derozan, LeBron James, and Jonas Valanciunas, while not mortgaging your future is more than worth the risk for Rob Pelinka and JJ Reddick. The Lakers would have two real chances at a ring, and if it doesn't work, Derozan and Valanciunas are both off the books in the summer of 2027 and James will have likely retired by that point, freeing up tons of money to surround a what-would-be 28-year-old Doncic with viable talent.

On the other side, the Kings are stuck in the worst spot you can be in the league, not near good enough to win a championship but not bad enough to be in contention for the top pick in the draft to get a chance at a generational talent. Parting ways with Derozan, Zach Lavine, and Domantas Sabonis may be the best course of action for the Kings to fully reset and take a few steps back in order to become a contender down the road.