Lakers fleece Nets and Nuggets in proposed blockbuster trade

The Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Denver Nuggets all find themselves out of the playoffs. Fortunately, they have more time to focus on the off-season and improving their rosters.

In fact, a proposed trade could help all three teams this summer, especially the Lakers. All three teams have different objectives, with the Lakers needing frontcourt help but having few assets to acquire a starting center. The Nets are still in rebuilding mode and are trying to find players that would fit long-term.

Lastly, the Nuggets won a championship in 2023 but have come up short the last two seasons. As a result, they may decide to break up their core while also saving money in the process. Next, let's take a look at the proposed trade and see whether it makes sense for all three teams.

Lakers fleece Nets and Nuggets in proposed blockbuster trade

The hypothetical three-team deal would send the Lakers Nic Claxton, the Nets Michael Porter Jr., and an unprotected Los Angeles first-round pick in 2031. Meanwhile, the Nuggets would receive Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht.

The proposed deal would allow the Lakers to fill their biggest need, which is at center, by adding Claxton. He is among the most mobile big men in the NBA, and his defensive versatility would be a basketball godsend to the Lakers. After all, they don't have a starting-caliber center on the roster at the moment.

It will cost them an unprotected first, Knecht, who was the 18th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, and Hachimura, who was a useful player for the Lakers this season. Nevertheless, it would be a worthwhile trade-off. Especially if they could use the taxpayer mid-level exception to add a backup big man such as Brook Lopez or Clint Capela if either veteran decides to ring chase.

Would the Nets and Nuggets agree to the trade?

The Nets don't appear married to Claxton, so them giving him up wouldn't be a major surprise. Especially with them having four first-round picks in this year's draft and plenty of big men available to be selected.

Their approval of the trade would largely depend on how they view Porter Jr. If they believe that he still has untapped potential, then they could be fine swapping Claxton out for him. Add in a distant first-round pick, and they could potentially be talked into a trade involving the Lakers and Nuggets.

Denver will be getting back the least in this potential deal, at least on the surface of it. Porter Jr.'s contract has become a negative asset to the Nuggets. Moving him for a rotation player who will be an expiring contract and a sharpshooter may not be the worst idea.

Knecht wouldn't replace Porter Jr. in the starting lineup, but he is a talented shooter nonetheless and could earn a backup role next season. Hatchimura also isn't near the shooter, but he is a versatile player who can defend multiple positions and is capable of hitting open threes.

Tweaking the potential trade could make it better

The Nuggets will probably need more to make this deal more worthwhile. As a result, including Zeke Nnaji in the potential trade would definitely help them.

Nnaji is owed roughly $8 million a season over the next three years and has yet to carve out a consistent role on their roster. That essentially makes his salary dead cap space, and they would surely love to get off of that money. Sending him to the Nets would be a big help and increase their flexibility.

All in all, this hypothetical deal with some slight tweaks could be workable for all three teams. With the off-season just weeks away, we'll have to see whether this deal becomes reality.