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Los Angeles Lakers: Moritz Wagner could be a surprise trade chip

By Jason Reed

EL SEGUNDO, CA - JUNE 26: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #15 answers questions from the media as general manager Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations Magic Johnson, and Moritz Wagner #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers listen during a press conference to introduce the 2018 draft picks, at the UCLA Health Training Center on June 26, 2018 in El Segundo, California. Wagner was chosen with the 25th overall pick and Mykhailiuk with the 47th pick. TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - JUNE 26: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #15 answers questions from the media as general manager Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations Magic Johnson, and Moritz Wagner #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers listen during a press conference to introduce the 2018 draft picks, at the UCLA Health Training Center on June 26, 2018 in El Segundo, California. Wagner was chosen with the 25th overall pick and Mykhailiuk with the 47th pick. TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers have been tied to several different trade targets. One trade chip that has not been explored as often, though, is rookie Moritz Wagner.

The Los Angeles Lakers‘ front office seems to have something up their sleeve when it comes to the rest of the offseason. As it currently stands, this Lakers team looks like a third or fourth seed in the Western Conference with no real shot at dethroning the Golden State Warriors.

However, since LeBron James has committed to at least three years with a player option in year four, many think this is a multi-year plan by James and Magic Johnson. Let the Warriors win this year, have to deal with expiring contracts and attack the market to win a title in years 2-4.

Or, the Lakers have a plan this summer and are simply waiting to execute it. Waiting is a strange thing in the offseason as it risks the possibility of losing a player to another team. However, there may be a really good reason why the Lakers are waiting.

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Because they have to wait 30 days after Moritz Wagner signed his rookie contract to trade him. Wagner signed his rookie contract on July 1 after numerous trade rumors before his signing.

Theoretically, the Los Angeles Lakers can trade Wagner on July 31, which would be all-too-similar to the Andrew Wiggins trade that the Cavaliers pulled off when LeBron rejoined the team in 2014.

Wagner does not have the same trade stock as Wiggins did, however, he could be used to acquire the very same guy.

The Los Angeles Lakers seem hesitant to deal anyone from the young trio of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram and rightfully so. All three men could be all-stars in the very near future with Ingram and Kuzma ready to make that leap next season.

The beautiful part about potentially trading for Kevin Love is that the Los Angeles Lakers would not need to part ways with any of the young superstars. Love’s trade value, due to injuries and his fall off in Cleveland as a third option, has fallen.

Los Angeles could theoretically send the Cavaliers a package consisting of Wagner, Josh Hart and Luol Deng for Love. Throw in two draft picks and a pick swap and Cleveland would be getting a pretty good return out of Love, who has a fairly large contract to begin with.

The Lakers would be able to shed the contract of Luol Deng, making the team much more flexible in 2019. Cleveland would be able to get two young, solid players that will progress nicely as well as some draft picks to accelerate the rebuild. This Cavs team is old, they should be looking for youth wherever they can get it.

Granted, the Cavaliers could be stingy with Love and not trade him to the Lakers out of pure spite. However, if there are no other trade candidates offering a better package, the Cavaliers would be foolish to not take this deal.

Would the Lakers be good enough to beat the Warriors in year one? Probably not, but they would give them a serious run for their money. In year two, with space for another max guy, the Lakers would be primed to be the new face of the Western Conference.

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This would give the Los Angeles Lakers a starting five of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, LeBron James, Kevin Love and JaVale McGee. In a small lineup, the Lakers can substitute Kyle Kuzma for McGee and play Love at center. That is a pretty good lineup; much better than James and Love had in Cleveland.

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