Lakers: A three-team trade for Jahlil Okafor is a great move for LA

The Los Angeles Lakers have a top talent center this season in Brook Lopez. However, on an expiring deal, Lopez is not a long-term asset.

The Los Angeles Lakers are starting to become relevant again. After being riddled with mediocrity the last four years, Los Angeles is in prime position to make a postseason push. New starters Lonzo Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brook Lopez join Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle to form one of the more interesting starting fives in basketball.

Not to mention all of the Lakers rumors that have been popping off in recent months. A superstar, or maybe even two, seems to be an inevitable acquisition for Los Angeles at this point. In fact, LeBron James coming to LA is now becoming “unequivocally” certain.

However, the team still has leaps and bounds of progress to be made. If LA is sold on this superstar acquisition, they are going to need cap space. Los Angeles is currently over the salary cap, however. The team does own $47 million in expiring deals. This will give Los Angeles around $42 million in space to work with next offseason.

The biggest sore spot is the contract of Luol Deng. Los Angeles owes a washed up Deng $54 million dollars over the next season, far exceeding his value. Because of this, Deng has been the rumored next man to go, with the Lakers likely needing to package Julius Randle along with him.

Lucky for the Lakers, the perfect three-team deal to save money and stay relevant can be in the cards.

The deal? Los Angeles receiving Jahlil Okafor and Diamond Stone in a three-team trade involving the 76ers and Bulls. Philadelphia would acquire Dwayne Wade while Chicago would acquire Randle, Deng and Jerryd Bayless. The 76ers and Bulls can even swap picks for 2018, with the 76ers receiving the worst of the two (decided in the lottery) and the Bulls getting the best.

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This deal undoubtedly works out for all sides. Philadelphia gets a one-year investment in Wade that can help the team develop while adding more minutes to Markelle Fultz’ plate. The Bulls get some rebuilding pieces along with a guaranteed good pick, whether it be there’s or the Lakers. And Los Angeles gets a solid, young, center with a lot of upside.

Okafor is entering his third year in the NBA and has found himself outshined by Joel Embiid. Now, Okafor has no real place to shine in Philadelphia, needing a much larger stage.

In Los Angeles, playing alongside a distributing point guard such as Ball, Okafor can play big minutes off the bench and see his numbers climb.

Heck, Okafor could even flirt with the power forward spot. Last season, he averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and one block per game. Again, not the most eye-popping stats, but his physical play and .514 shooting percentage show signs of upside. In his rookie year, Okafor averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, so the foundation is there.

With this deal, the Lakers would be freeing up cap space and adding yet another young talent to develop to contribute to a future super team. For all parties, this deal seems to be a huge win.