Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Eric Bledsoe
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, F Alfonzo McKinnie, LAL 2022 1st Round Pick (Top-5 Protected)
LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be taking up about 70% of the Lakers’ cap space next season and with Kyle Kuzma’s contract-extension set to go into effect next season, paying him about $13M, the Lakers do not have much room to be going after guys like Eric Bledsoe, who is set to make $18.1M next season.
However, Kentavoius Caldwell-Pope is owed $13M next season and would likely be the only player the Lakers could trade to make this deal work. Whether it is to the Pelicans or to a third team that is unspecified above in this deal, KCP frees up the necessary cap space the Lakers would need to absorb a player like Eric Bledsoe.
Replacing Dennis Schroder with Eric Bledsoe would definitely be a strong move by the Lakers, especially since Bledsoe is an impactful, experienced player. In 50 games with the Pelicans this season, Eric Bledsoe has averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and has shot 36.5% from three-point range.
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While he is not a high-level scorer that will go for 18+ any night, Bledsoe makes up for his lack of offensive production by being a great one-on-one defender that plays physical. He is a very underrated two-way guard in this league and with the Lakers being a defensive-focused team, this move would definitely benefit them should they lose Schroder in free agency.
The only questions are whether or not the Pelicans are willing to trade him and whether or not they would want a guy like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in return. Let’s take a look at how this trade breakdowns for each team and whether or not it truly makes sense for the Lakers and the Pelicans.
