Los Angeles Lakers: 4 trades team should make before deadline

3. Miami Heat

If there’s a player in the league who knows how to get hot in a hurry, it’s Miami Heat sharpshooter Wayne Ellington. You only take a look at his most recent outing to understand just what Ellington could provide the Lakers.

This season has been incredibly frustrating for Ellington thus far. Coming off the back of a career-best season, Ellington has appeared in just 23 contests, with his most recent outing against the New York Knicks being the first time he had eclipsed eight minutes in a game since Dec. 12. Despite starting off by going 0-of-4 from the field in the first half, Ellington exploded by posting all 19 of his points in the second half, including 4-of-7 from long range.

This kind of performance was commonplace last season for Ellington, who set a Heat franchise record by nailing 227 triples for the season. Such was Ellington’s importance last season, the Heat were 20-8 when he nailed at least four 3-pointers. However, with a full healthy roster for the majority of this season, Ellington’s ability to make an impact has been severely limited.

In terms of finding a deal for the Heat, the following is one that could suffice, which works out financially on the ESPN Trade Machine:

In return, the Heat would be receiving Lance Stephenson, who like Ellington, sees his contract expire at season’s end. Although incredibly frustrating, Stephenson does possess genuine versatility at both ends of the floor, and is certainly someone the Heat could use in their rotation following the likely long-term absence of Derrick Jones Jr. due to injury.

In order to sweeten the pot, and primarily due to Ellington possessing a truly elite skill as it pertains to long distance shooting, the Lakers would be including a future second round pick to the Heat as compensation.