The Russell Westbrook trade has been a nightmare for the Los Angeles Lakers. After last year’s disappointing season, many around the league expected the Lakers to move on from the former MVP in the off-season. A lot of names have been mentioned as potential targets for the Lakers, but we are now three games into the season and a trade doesn’t seem any closer.
As a matter of fact, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski recently stated that the Los Angeles front office might wait until Thanksgiving to re-engage in any trade discussions. with the hope of having more options available to them as more teams decide to throw in their hat in the Wenbeyama sweepstakes.
There is hesitancy within the Lakers’ front office to offer both of their 1st round draft picks in a trade since these are the only assets they possess. If they choose to make a trade, such a trade must instantly elevate them to title contender status. Anything short of this will condemn the franchise to mediocrity in the present and future, having traded away most of their draft picks for the rest of this decade.
After Sunday’s defeat against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Lakers are still winless, having lost all three of their games. Coming into the season, there was concern over LA’s lack of shooters on their roster, but the Lakers’ abysmal shooting to start the season has exceeded even the most pessimistic of expectations. After three games, the Lakers sit at the bottom of almost every 3-point shooting category, shooting a horrific 21% from beyond the arc.
This lackluster start to the season may not afford the Lakers’ front office much more time to execute a trade. The fans are growing restless and clamor every day for the team to trade for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, but L.A. has been unwilling to match Indiana’s asking price. Aside from the previously mentioned trade, here are some trades the Los Angeles Lakers should consider in order to improve their roster.