1 dream, 1 nightmare, and 1 realistic trade target for the Lakers

Lakers dream trade target: Trae Young

The most unlikely of the three trade targets, Trae Young appears to be the centerpiece of the Hawks' future. After trading Dejounte Murray to New Orleans for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, EJ Liddell, and two first-round picks, the Hawks retooling around Young will start this season.

First-overall pick Zaccharie Risacher will join a young core of players pushing for playoff hopes with Young and Clint Capela. Yet, Atlanta's better built to rebuild than to compete, leaving uncertainty with Young's future.

Los Angeles struck out on a potential Dejounte Murray deal, although the sides appeared close to a deal at last season's trade deadline. The same team that failed to acquire Murray then, the New Orleans Pelicans, was able to agree to a deal this summer.

With Murray locked into the Pelicans' future, the Lakers will have to look elsewhere for a high-level player to ascend toward contention. His former teammate, Trae Young, could transform the Lakers' offense and championship hopes.

Murray's fit in Los Angeles appeared more promising than Young's defensively, but the three-time All Star and former Third Team All-NBA selection is an offensive force. Young averaged a double-double each of the last two seasons, and with career averages of 26 points, 10 assists, and four turnovers per game, shooting 43 percent, 36 percent from three, and 87 percent on free throws after six seasons. Though it'll probably never happen, Young in a Lakers uniform is a match made in heaven.

With two aging superstar talented players, the Lakers championship window is closing, which means more pressure than ever before on General Manager Rob Pelinka to improve the roster. Trae Young feels out of reach for Los Angeles, but lower-end targets like Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine, and others could either make or break the Lakers in 2024-25.