Los Angeles Lakers: 3 takeaways from 2018 NBA Trade Deadline
2. Lakers get perfect haul
The Los Angeles Lakers accomplished everything they wanted at the trade deadline. They swapped two of their young players for a pair of veterans on expiring contracts, along with a first round pick that will land somewhere in the mid-20s.
I noted earlier that I had my doubts about offloading Clarkson and other young players that were improving, but I did not expect them to get this strong of a return, in particular a first round pick.
No matter where that pick lands, the Lakers landed two members of their core in Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart with the 27th and 30th picks of the draft.
I’m also coming around to the idea of Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye keeping up the Lakers’ run of good play. Thomas has been less than stellar this season with Cleveland, but a change of locker room and return to a larger role with the Lakers could be for the best.
Quick thought on IT: He won’t get his massive contract, but if the Lakers are really playing for free agency in 2019, a sizeable, one-year deal with LA (like KCP’s) seems possible this summer.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 8, 2018
IT, who grew up in southern California, will be on a much better defensive team than the Cavs, and is a short-term fix to fill Clarkson’s sixth man role. Expect head coach Luke Walton to use him in defensive-minded lineups like his days with the Boston Celtics.
Frye is a floor-spacing big that will be a positive voice in the locker room. He’s a beloved teammate throughout the league and forms a spacious offensive partnership with Kyle Kuzma off the bench.
Considering how public the Lakers’ search for expiring deals has been, this is a great haul. It opens cap space and keeps them competitive, which is all I asked for when trading Clarkson or any of their young players.