Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Lakers
One thing has been clear this offseason. That is the fact that the Lakers are going all-out to repeat as NBA champions. Rob Pelinka has added a lot of talent around LeBron James and Anthony Davis and he will continue trying to do so.
With this trade, they would be giving up a key role player from last season in Kyle Kuzma. Markieff Morris isn’t a big move one way or the other.
Trey Lyles is a quality big man that is very underrated around the league. He averaged 6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season with the Spurs. Keldon Johnson is also an intriguing young piece and averaged 9.1 points per game last season in 17 games as a rookie.
Both of these guys could find themselves in rotational roles with the Lakers. Johnson, in particular, could end up being a quality addition for Los Angeles. He is just 21 years old and has a ton of potential to grow into.
Moving Kuzma would be a tough decision to make, but the Lakers should not pay him big money in an extension. He has not been consistent enough, nor was he a perfect fit last year.
This trade would not be the move that puts the Lakers over the top towards another championship, but it would add two quality role players who might end up being better fits both now and in the future for L.A.
