At this point in the offseason, after the Los Angeles Lakers failed to sign any free agents, the only way they can upgrade their roster is through a trade. While they have a good roster that should make the playoffs if they stay relatively healthy, they don’t seem to be championship contenders by any stretch.
The Lakers’ needs are (in no particular order) an upgrade in terms of a ball-handling guard with better quickness and defense, a 3-and-D wing and a serviceable defensive center.
According to NBA insider Jake Weinbach, there are eight players to watch as far as possible trade targets for Los Angeles: Darius Garland, Bruce Brown, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Wendell Carter Jr.
The Lakers’ list of potential trade targets:
Darius Garland
Bruce Brown
Collin Sexton
Lauri Markkanen
Jerami Grant
Cam Johnson
Dorian Finney-Smith
Wendell Carter Jr.I don’t foresee anything to be imminent, but watch for these names to become frequently linked to the Lakers.
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) July 19, 2024
Carter is someone who could solve the Lakers’ need for another legitimate center other than Anthony Davis. Although he has been injury-prone, he has shown the ability to rebound and occasionally hit 3-pointers.
Garland and Sexton would represent possible backcourt upgrades for the Lakers, while Brown, Johnson and Finney-Smith are intriguing 3-and-D wings.
Grant is someone the Lakers have been rumored to have serious interest in this summer. Having averaged 21.0 points a game this past summer, he could give them a legitimate third scoring option and another 3-point sniper, and he’s also a pretty good defender.
Markkanen would be the loftiest target on this list. He put up 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game over the last two seasons while making the All-Star team in the 2022-23 campaign, and a number of teams are thought to be after his services.
The Lakers have limited trade assets, but their upcoming first-round draft picks in 2029 and 2031 could be seen as valuable by some other team.
