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The Los Angeles Lakers adding a third star before February’s trade deadline is one of the most inevitable outcomes of the current season.
Not only would it be so un-Hollywood for Lakers GM Rob Pelinka not to go and grab another marquee name; it would also be a disservice to LeBron James and Anthony Davis as they continue to shoulder a burdensome load offensively.
Though the deal has been recycled in trade machines tirelessly of late, a Trae Young-to-Lakers proposal seems destined to become a reality.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey made an excellent case for Young in L.A. with a new report released Friday.
Bailey outlined the deal as follows:
“Trae Young for D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick.”
“Young is one of the best and most prolific offensive players of all time,” Bailey said. “He'd lighten the playmaking load LeBron is currently carrying, potentially prolonging the legend's already prolonged career. And after LeBron's retirement, Young and AD could instantly be one of the league's most dangerous guard-big combinations.”
“For Atlanta, this (trade) may be even easier to justify.”
“The Hawks are once again struggling to live up to even modest expectations, and that could be a sign that having Young as the unquestioned alpha just isn't guaranteed to make you a perennial contender.”
“Starting a new era with two extra picks, an extra pick swap and a lot more cap flexibility (the contracts of D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent all expire before Young's) might make some sense.”
“Building around a pair of big, versatile forwards like Zaccharie Risacher and Jalen Johnson could be more likely to yield sustained success than building around one small, defensively challenged guard.”
Young is in year three of a five-year, $215.2 million deal. He turned 26 in September.
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