5 Realistic Trade Targets For The Los Angeles Lakers In 2016-17

Oklahoma City Thunder SG Andre Roberson

It still blows my mind how overlooked Andre Roberson is as a key piece of the puzzle in Oklahoma City. While he may be an uninspiring scorer, there’s no denying he’s an outstanding perimeter defender with the ability to make a big impact on a game-to-game basis.

Roberson is heading into a contract year with the Thunder, and appears primed to hit free agency with some momentum when next offseason rolls around. Instead of letting him leave, though, the team could opt to get something in return this year.

That’s where a defense-needy team like the Lakers comes into play.

Los Angeles would love to have a defensive specialist like Roberson on the roster. They obviously have plenty of talent at shooting guard with Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams, but neither is a defensive star. The addition of Roberson, though, would allow Luke Walton more flexibility with his bench unit.

It’s unclear what the Lakers would have to give up to get a player like Roberson. They’d also probably like some assurance that he’d sign a new deal, but it’s a risk worth taking assuming the asking price isn’t too high.