Lakers predicted to 'fire off' these 2 trade candidates
Los Angeles doesn't have many trade assets.
The Los Angeles Lakers, currently enjoying a strong start to the season with six wins in their first eight games, are reportedly considering trade candidates. Despite the trade deadline being months away, the team might be exploring ways to enhance their roster. A significant hurdle for the Lakers in these negotiations is the limited moveable assets they possess.
When offering a deal for Walker Kessler, the Lakers included everything that wasn't secured, leaving them with only a distant 2032 first-round swap as a movable asset. Given the substantial amount of draft equity already expended, some experts suggest it could be beneficial for the Lakers to part ways with additional picks. According to Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes, the team's top three trade assets to consider are the 2032 first-round swap, Jaden Hardy, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
If the Lakers view themselves as true title contenders, they may as well explore the market for new talent, especially if Hardy and Vanderbilt are not integral to the upcoming rotation. However, the Lakers' options are severely constrained, with only Hardy and Vanderbilt offering potential value in a trade. Hughes notes that while the latter may not be a positive-value asset independently, the team might need to "sink or swim" with their current roster due to a lack of non-essential trade assets.
This strategy seems logical, particularly considering the Lakers' starting lineup is led by Luka Doncic, a player who has already surpassed LeBron James in the team's history books.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
