Lakers may acquire $134 million 2-time NBA champion, deal 20.2 PPG star to Celtics

The Los Angeles Lakers will return to the drawing board this summer after a disappointing first-round elimination from the 2025 NBA Playoffs at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.

Los Angeles' general manager Rob Pelinka will surely be scrambling to bring in the perfect complementary talents to support their generational duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić, and a wonderful trade target could become available at just the right time.

The reigning 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics are keyed in on coming away with their second consecutive NBA championship, but their offseason will be one loaded with tough decisions for their top brass due to serious financial constraints.

Due to their overabundance of aging stars and hefty contracts, recent reports have indicated that the Celtics could make serious personnel changes this summer, giving the Lakers a wonderful opportunity to poach a star-level talent from their bitter rival.

"The rest of the league is bracing for some level of change to the Celtics' roster this offseason," ESPN's Shams Charania reported during a Thursday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

"Sources have been telling me for weeks now that the Celtics will be exploring trade options in the offseason."

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

With Boston in a financial bind, Los Angeles may offer to bring aboard one of their most likely trade candidates in 2-time All-Star and 6-time All-Defensive Team selection Jrue Holiday, who would have a chance to accept a $37.2 million player option at age-37 for the 2027-28 season. 

In exchange for Holiday, the Lakers could hypothetically swap out their homegrown star Austin Reaves, rookie forward Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt and draft capital to get a deal across the finish line.

By prospectively acquiring the elite stopper, Los Angeles would be adding one of the greatest defensive players in recent memory with the purpose of hiding the slow-footed Dončić on that end of the floor. 

In 62 appearances for Boston in the regular season, the 34-year-old contributed 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists to go along with a wonderful 1.0 defensive box plus-minus figure.

Above all, Holiday's most valuable trait could arguably be his intangibles and overall feel for the game, making him a suitable fit next to players of James and Dončić's caliber.

If the Lakers were to add the experienced, battle-tested guard to their nightly rotation, it's likely that the storied organization will be in position to claim its 17th title in franchise history in 2025-26.

More NBA: Georgia star Anthony Edwards pays tribute to Lakers LeBron James after fiery series win