Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players most likely to be traded in 2018

1. Josh Hart

You know how I mentioned when discussing Kuzma that it’s going to take more than him to get a deal done? Well, it seems like, if a trade does materialize, Josh Hart is going to need to be thrown in to make it work no matter who the other pieces of the package are.

The Lakers decide to move Ingram? Chances are Hart is thrown in to help facilitate the deal. Maybe Ball is moved in the biggest trade of the 2018 offseason? Don’t be surprised if it’s a backcourt combo including Hart that entices the other club to pull the trigger. Are you seeing the picture I’m painting yet?

It’s unfortunate, but I believe it’s the hard reality of the situation. The Lakers are going to need extra pieces to spice up any trade offer, and Hart is about as great of a complementary piece as you can ask for beyond draft picks.

Luckily for the Lakers, they have a 2018 first round pick they can use to procure guard depth if needed. On top of that, a potential spending spree during free agency should give Luke Walton more than enough talent to keep this lineup from falling apart. While that may be, the departure of Hart would be a low blow to the Lakers’ bench and a kidney punch to the Lake Show faithful.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft - Doncic still No. 1 in post-lottery edition

Hart quickly endeared himself to the Los Angeles fans as a rookie. Now, he stands a decent chance of being used as a pawn in Johnson’s game of chess. I will reiterate that I don’t expect a trade to happen this offseason, but the former Villanova star seems most likely to be wearing a different jersey if a move is made.