After a disappointing end to the season, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Playoff Round 1, the onus is on the LA Lakers to head into the offseason and come back with improved prospects. It became immensely clear towards the culmination of the season that the Lakers’ squad is nowhere near complete and modification needs to be made to present a contention for the championship. Subsequently, they could have a busy run this time during the trade window.
The LA Lakers are set to make new signings soon, and the situation has given birth to a plethora of rumours. One more entry of the sort has been delivered and presents a solution to the problems both parties – LA Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers- endured this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers might be on the verge of a significant trade, with the Lakers potentially acquiring Paul George in exchange for Austin Reaves and more.
As Colin Keane of the Sporting News notes: “The Lakers are reportedly exploring trades to retool their roster, aiming to maximize LeBron’s final years while setting up a future around Doncic.”
The Philadelphia 76ers’ experiment with Paul George has tanked. After a $212 million deal, he played just 41 games, averaging a career-low 16.1 points, sparking speculation about his future with the team.
The Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George trio didn’t click, leaving the 76ers in turmoil. With a potential rebuild around Maxey and Jared McCain on the horizon, trading George’s hefty contract might be a smart move.
The proposed trade: Lakers would get Paul George and Eric Gordon (expiring contract) plus a 2025 No. 3 overall pick from the 76ers, while Philadelphia would get Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura (expiring), and Dorian Finney-Smith (expiring).
The Lakers would gain Paul George as a proven third star alongside LeBron and AD, Eric Gordon for bench scoring, and a potential future star with the No. 3 pick. Meanwhile, the 76ers would get dynamic guard Austin Reaves to fit with Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, young shooter Dalton Knecht, and financial flexibility from expiring contracts. However, the Lakers might be hesitant to lose fan favourite Reaves, while the 76ers might push for more draft compensation in return for the valuable pick.
