Lakers: Three three-team trades that make sense for LA

Pistons-Jazz trade

• Los Angeles Receives: Andre Drummond, Derrick Favors

• Utah Receives: Tobias Harris, Julius Randle

• Detroit Receives: Brook Lopez, Luol Deng, Dante Exum, Denver Second Round Pick, Swap first round picks with Jazz in 2019

This deal turns a short-term investment in Brook Lopez into a long-term investment in Andre Drummond. Although the two big men are in similar standing in the NBA center food chain, the duo presents vastly different styles of play. Lopez, who struggles to rebound the basketball at times, can stretch the floor in ways Drummond can’t.

However, Drummond plays with much more physicality and is a better defender than Lopez. Plus, while Drummond may not have extended range, the big man can still put up around 15 points with 14 or so rebounds.

The Jazz are pivotal in this deal to give the Pistons a future 2019 pick alongside Dante Exum. In 2019, Detroit and Utah would swap their picks, with the Pistons being guaranteed the better of the two, despite whose it is. In return of a risk, the Jazz are being rewarded with a solid young player in Julius Randle to fill the void left behind by Derrick Favors.

Favors wouldn’t hinder the Lakers now and may even make them a better team. Los Angeles gets to eliminate the contract of Deng, while not taking in a much larger contract than Lopez’ with Drummond. Lopez will be a free agent after this season, Drummond will not, so with a superstar in the shadows the Lakers can guarantee they will have a solid center.

As for the Pistons, they would essentially get a reset with this trade. While Drummond is a great player, they are not making any championship runs with him and it may be time to start building towards the future.