Three days before the NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers make a trade for future cap space and another first round pick.
As reported by The Vertical‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to trade guard D’Angelo Russell and center Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez and the 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Outside of the fact of this trade solidifies UCLA guard Lonzo Ball as the No. 2 selection in Thursday’s draft, this trade leaves quite a bit to unpack.
With rumors of LeBron James interested in heading west in 2018, this move helps the Lakers in those efforts. Shipping out Russell’s contract and Mozgov’s anchor of a contract ($54 million over the next three years) helps Los Angeles shave millions in an effort to sign both James and Paul George, who already expressed an interest in joining the Lakers.
Per Wojnarowski, the removal of Russell and Mozgov from their cap space is expected to give Los Angeles $30 million in cap space next summer.
Los Angeles also acquired a talented big man in Lopez. Lopez is a notoriously poor rebounder, but he can score the ball in bunches, averaging at least 19 points per game in six of his last seven seasons. In his first full season shooting threes, he knocked down 35 percent of them on five attempts per game and he’s an underrated passer.
Lopez has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career, but when he’s on the floor, he’s talented.
Lopez and Randle are a good combination together. Randle is a great rebounder and an excellent passer. His ability to cover for Lopez on the glass is solid, but Lopez’s shooting and defense – quietly touting great rim protection numbers – will create a respectable twosome to start games for Los Angeles.
Plus, Los Angeles acquired another first round pick in this deal. Adding the 27th overall pick to picks No. 2 and 28 gives Los Angeles another shot of adding another player that fits Luke Walton’s scheme. With the Los Angeles Lakers destined to add Lonzo Ball, adding a potential 3-and-D wing would be great. Or, adding someone who can defend the rim behind Lopez.
There’s already chatter about Los Angeles shipping both late first round picks — plus one of Randle or Jordan Clarkson — to Indiana for Paul George. I would decline on that because George already made it clear that he wants to play with Los Angeles, but in the event of Los Angeles adding James and George – they’ll need young, cheap talent to work with them.
Los Angeles Lakers
The negatives of this trade are the timing and the quick discarding of Russell, who certainly had more value than a sweetener in a salary dump.
Despite a tumultuous two seasons in Los Angeles, it’s clear that Russell is a talented player. There were questions about the combination of Ball and Russell coexisting, but both are talented shooters who can also create. Even so, using Russell as a piece to sweeten a trade to take Mozgov off the books is a risky move.
Still just 21 years old, Russell possesses a ton of upside in his game. His first season was Kobe Bryan’s last and this season, he continued to play well despite injury and losing playing time to Clarkson. Again, he’s a knockdown shooter, a good creator and has all the tools to be a fine player, maybe even an All-Star. Giving that up for a chance to entice LeBron James is risky.
Also, unless Russell gets hurt, this deal still would’ve been on the table a year from now. Mozgov would’ve been with just two years on his contract – making him slightly easier to deal. Perhaps that costs a first round pick as opposed to Russell. It was taking an asset and undervaluing him. Los Angeles’ loss and Brooklyn’s gain from that perspective.
The Los Angeles Lakers made a move with some positives and negatives. Getting Mozgov off the books was a need, whether LeBron comes or not. You still have the second overall pick and several first-rounders at the bottom of the draft to add to the roster and now, cap space to become the most interesting team in 2018 free agency.
Next: NBA Trade Grades - Lakers send Russell to Nets for Lopez
On the other hand, Russell could emerge as an All-Star, Lopez could go through an injury-riddled lone season in Los Angeles and James could spurn the Lakers. Only time will tell, but L.A. made a move that could land the best player in the league and in that case, you have to go for it.