If the Los Angeles Lakers don’t complete an off-season trade for a big man after getting annihilated by Rudy Gobert in the postseason, their future will likely suffer.
Athlon Sports’ Jonah Kubicek predicts the Lakers will acquire a highly skilled Sacramento Kings forward in a monster three-team summer deal.
The Los Angeles Lakers, after their first-round exit, will likely look for a player who can both maximize the end of LeBron James’ prime and be Luka Doncic’s long-term running mate, and (Domantas) Sabonis fits the bill,” Kubicek wrote Wednesday.
“He won’t come cheap, but a three-team trade could allow the Kings to rebuild, the Lakers to contend in the West, and the Memphis Grizzlies to bounce back after two disappointing seasons in a row.
Assuming that the Kings are interested in a full-on rebuild, adding as much draft capital while shedding as much salary will be the priority. The Grizzlies, with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., can compete in the West but could use an added star (or two!), and the Lakers need a paint presence and a scorer who is not that ball-dominant.”
“While this mock trade certainly makes the Kings less competitive, the massive haul of young talent and draft capital would make it worth it in the long run.
In Kubicek’s three-team trade proposal, the Kings receive Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, and four future first-round picks; The Lakers receive Sabonis and Desmond Bane, and the Grizzlies receive DeMar DeRozan and Austin Reaves.
Sabonis shouldn’t receive blame for the Kings’ disappointing 40-42 campaign.
In the regular season, the Gonzaga product exhibited superb defensive rebounding ability, reliable transition scoring, off-the-dribble playmaking, and encouraging long-range shooting.
Sabonis averaged 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, shooting 59.0% from the field and 41.7% from three.
Sabonis averaged 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, shooting 59.0% from the field and 41.7% from three.
With the Lakers having a massive frontcourt issue to address in free agency and Reaves regressing slightly after a phenomenal regular season, Sabonis should be a trade target for Los Angeles this summer.
Kubicek’s trade idea is one of the more realistic hypothetical scenarios.
