Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Lakers made a move to augment their roster positively.
The team traded mercurial guard D’Angelo Russell, little-used Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Shake Milton and Dorian Finney-Smith.
As has been chronicled by virtually every NBA pundit, the move helped the Lakers become more athletic, better defensively, and more versatile on the wing.
Acquiring Finney-Smith should enable the Lakers to become a bit more conventional with their starting lineup. He figures to slot in at the small forward spot, with LeBron James manning the power forward role.
Rui Hachimura will likely move to a reserve role where he’ll theoretically help in strengthening the Lakers’ bench. Milton is another bigger guard who can play when Gabe Vincent and Max Christie are not effective.
From here, the Lakers could stand to address two other needs: A rim-protecting big man and a guard who can beat defenders off the dribble.
The bench is slated to include Hachimura, rookie Dalton Knecht, Milton, Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt (when he gets healthy), and Jaxon Hayes. This second unit isn’t good enough to truly help LA become a real contender in any substantial way.
Armed with three precious first-round picks, along with Hachimura/Vincent salaries and getting under the second tax apron in the wake of their most recent trade, the Lakers do have some wiggle room to make another significant move.
Zach LaVine has been bandied about for years. Nikola Vucevic is another who could fit the bill as a rebounder/post scorer (although he’s not the cleanest fit next to Anthony Davis). Jonas Valanciunas, Robert Williams, and Kyle Kuzma have been also mentioned.
However, the deal which would be essentially perfect for the Lakers involves working with the Utah Jazz and noted ex-Celtics legend Danny Ainge.
The Lakers reportedly have been working to acquire Walker Kessler for over a year. The former Auburn center is a shot-blocking machine. At only 23 years old, Kessler would theoretically be a building block for the franchise beyond the James era along with Austin Reaves and Knecht.
Another element to a possible Jazz-Lakers trade would be guard Collin Sexton. The Lakers don’t have a guard possessing the power and quickness to put pressure on opposing defenses. Reaves and James would rather be in facilitating roles, and Knecht/Finney-Smith are more so spot-up shooters.
Sexton, 25, would give the Lakers the type of player this roster doesn’t possess. He can come off the bench and be a microwave scorer, and he can also be someone you use in a lineup to close out a game. Sexton is averaging 17.4 PPG on 48.4 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from three-point range.
Sexton is a Klutch client and is under contract for next year at an affordable $19.1 million. Kessler also has one more year after this season before becoming a restricted free agent. Should LA acquire Kessler and Sexton, each would likely be re-signed as core members of the franchise moving forward.
Utah is trying to tank to better position itself for one of Cooper Flagg or Ace Bailey in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, here’s the rub: Do the Lakers really want to give up two unprotected first-round picks with James likely retiring soon, and Davis aging out of his prime?
Those two picks could become highly valuable in two years’ time depending on what happens with LA’s two current stars. You also run the risk of helping out a Western Conference foe. Additionally, Ainge has a good track record in fleecing desperate franchises for assets. His background as a Boston Celtics legend likely lends itself to the notion that he will not be giving the Lakers any favors in negotiations.
Ainge knows LA has to maximize the remainder of James’ career in purple and gold. Giving them Sexton and Kessler could hurt the value of the picks Utah gets in return. At this point, it could be a matter of waiting for whichever party blinks before a deal is consummated. With Kessler and Sexton in tow, the Lakers would instantly become a far more viable threat in a loaded Western Conference.
