The Los Angeles Lakers are turning to the trade market in an attempt to add an impact player after striking out on their free agent targets.
Before the new season begins, Jovan Buha of The Athletic stated on July 16 that such a transfer is still under consideration.
“According to league sources, the Lakers plan to make a consolidation trade at some point, though that might happen closer to the start of the season,” Buha reported.
The Lakers’ backup plans, DeMar DeRozan and Gary Trent Jr., have performed worse than their original free-agent targets, Klay Thompson, Jonas Valanciunas, and James Harden.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Trent was the Lakers’ most recent loss as the renowned 3-point shooter chose to sign a one-year veteran minimum contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Lakers’ backup plans, DeMar DeRozan and Gary Trent Jr., have performed worse than their original free-agent targets, Klay Thompson, Jonas Valanciunas, and James Harden.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Trent was the Lakers’ most recent loss as the renowned 3-point shooter chose to sign a one-year veteran minimum contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Buha placed the blame on the Lakers for giving their summer additions last year player options rather than team options.
Four roster holdovers who were granted second-year player options last summer—D’Angelo Russell, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish—opted in because of their play from the previous season and the competitive free-agent market, according to Buha. This is one of the reasons the Lakers have been unable to make any additions and have had to look into trades.
Only Russell ($18.7 million) is worth including in a trade for an impact player who makes comparable or less money. The other three players are not worth trading for.
The Lakers’ roster is currently full as a result of the four holdovers exercising their player options, so even with the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception available, they are unable to pursue Trent.
In order to use the midlevel exception and open up a position on the roster, the Lakers must let go of some of them.
Redick is still hopeful that the Lakers might get a center of a similar caliber through trade to lessen Anthony Davis’ defensive load despite missing out on Valanciunas.
“It is imperative that you examine what I consider to be an exceptionally strong and well-rounded roster,” Redick stated during an interview on Sirius XM NBA Radio with Justin Termine and Eddie Johnson. “We tried, and we would really love to have another five man, a huge, brutish five man, at some point.
“You look at the Western Conference right now, you’re going to need a lot of size, whether it’s Denver, Minnesota, OKC with what they added, or Memphis, they’re going to be back in the hunt because they added Zach Edey.”
In order to battle the three-time MVP of the Nuggets, Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves, Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, and free agent addition Isaiah Hartenstein, Redick plans to add size.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers have strengthened Redick’s coaching staff by bringing in G League Coach of the Year Lindsey Hardin.
Harding, 39, previously served as a player development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings before leading the Stockton Kings to the G League’s Western Conference Finals the previous season.
She joins veteran Greg St. Jean, who began as a player development coach under Frank Vogel during the Lakers’ 2020 championship run, as well as former NBA head coaches Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks.
After spending time together in Philadelphia and while attending Duke, Harding and Redick are reunited in Los Angeles.
In their stellar collegiate careers as Duke players, Redick (2006) and Harding (2007) were named Naismith College Players of the Year. From 2017 to 2019, Harding served as a player development coach for Redick while he was a member of the 76ers.
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