Lakers Rumors: Possible trade returns for Brook Lopez
By Jason Reed
This deal is practically identical to the one before. Here, the Lakers would be flipping one season of Lopez for extended years of a solid center. Los Angeles is going to need established names to haul in any free agent talent, and Enes Kanter may be viewed as the perfect role-playing piece to play alongside guys like Paul George and Lonzo Ball.
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At only 25-years-old, Kanter has a very high ceiling that he is still yet to hit. Last season, Kanter averaged 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game exclusively coming off of the bench. As a starter, and without Russell Westbrook hogging the boards, Kanter can easily score around 18 points a game while hauling in ten rebounds.
This is exactly the kind of production the Lakers would need alongside a playmaking point guard and score first superstar forward. While Kanter may not be the biggest name in basketball yet, his improving play is only proving that he soon may be.
As for the Knicks, they received Kanter in the trade for Carmelo Anthony. New York obviously wants to free themselves of any big contracts, and this allows them to do so. Acquiring Lopez would give them $22 million dollars in free space next offseason, giving them a true restart to their post-Phil Jackson era.
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Because of the Knicks desire to clear salary space, the Lakers front office likely could convince them to throw in a second round pick as well. Although second-round picks are not the biggest thing in sports, Los Angeles could then package their multiple second-round picks for a late first-round pick.