How This Trade Impacts The Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping it doesn’t come to this. In an ideal world, everything will work out with their new Big 3 of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But, the team needs some contingency plans in case things fall apart and changes need to be made.
There won’t be many avenues for the team to take to move Westbrook during the season. This deal with the San Antonio Spurs would likely be the best that Rob Pelinka could do and he would be coming away rather pleased.
Dejounte Murray is going to be 25 when the season starts and is beginning to turn into a very good player. He is already an excellent defender with a blossoming offensive game. He is good at finishing around the rim and in the mid-range and is an improving pick-and-roll player. If he finds consistency with his 3-point shot, he will be tough to stop on offense.
Derrick White is a solid combo guard to add to the mix. He has shown good scoring ability and has the looks of someone that will be a consistent 3-point shooter sooner than later. He can initiate some offense and run the point guard position a little bit as well. White will also hold his own defensively, giving Los Angeles even more depth in the backcourt.
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Al-Farouq Aminu likely wouldn’t be in the rotation, but the Lakers could do worse for an end of the bench player. Aminu has struggled with injuries recently, appearing in only 41 games the last two seasons.
If he remained on the roster, he would provide Los Angeles with another versatile defender in the frontcourt. Contending teams can never have enough players that can play defense. With the Portland Trail Blazers, he was showing some improvements as a 3-point shooter before the injuries set in the last two seasons.
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The Lakers would likely be happy with this deal. They would get younger in the backcourt and have two players in Murray and White that could be a part of their foundation going forward as they begin to prepare for life after LeBron James.
