Los Angeles Lakers: Dream trade targets before 2018 deadline

If the Los Angeles Lakers had their way prior to the 2018 NBA trade deadline, they’d be making a deal for one of these exciting targets.

We’re already a month into the 2017-18 NBA season, and it’s been an interesting one for the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite some early struggles, they’ve proven themselves capable of contending for a playoff spot due to some surprising performances from unlikely stars.

Still, chances are this season is nothing more than an opportunity for development. The Lakers aren’t good enough to make a run — at best, they’ll lose 4-1 in the first round and go home proud of what they accomplished. The main focus right now is still getting to next offseason, which could be a big one for Magic Johnson and co.

While that may be the case, that doesn’t mean the rebuild has to wait until June or July. Instead, the Lakers could make some moves before the 2018 NBA trade deadline, which is set for Feb. 8. Today, though, I want to take it a step further than that.

In this scenario, I want to imagine we’re in a dream world where anything is possible. Instead of trying to be realistic and limiting ourselves, I’m thinking big. That’s why, as you probably gathered from the headline, this will be focused on some dream trade-deadline targets for the Lakers in 2018.

Just keep in mind that each of these targets could be tradable in theory. I’m not just making hyperbolic claims like the Lakers should trade for Karl Anthony-Towns or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Related Story: Big-name NBA players allegedly on trade block

So without further ado, let’s take a look at three targets I believe should be in the Lakers’ crosshairs between now and Feb. 8. The odds of any of these deals happening are slim, but that doesn’t mean we can’t let our imaginations wonder as we work our way through the early part of the NBA season.