Los Angeles Lakers: A deal for Nikola Vucevic is worth exploring
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers have not yet made any trades after signing LeBron James. One potential trade partner for the Lakers is the Orlando Magic.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a much better position than the team was a year ago today after signing LeBron James to a four-year, $154 million deal.
Despite landing the big free agent in American sports, the Lakers have not done any huge moves to follow. While the team has added several veterans, there has not been that second star that many would have expected with James.
That is because the Lakers struck out on Paul George, who opted to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder and could not get a deal together for Kawhi Leonard. That was probably for the best, though, as the Spurs’ reported asking price was hefty.
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The front office still set the team up for flexibility, though. The Los Angeles Lakers are set to have just under $30 million in practical cap space next summer. Although it is not quite a max contract, having James and that kind of cap space is a dangerous duo.
The biggest thing holding the Lakers back, at least monetarily, is Luol Deng, who is set to make $36 million over the next two seasons.
The biggest thing holding the Lakers back on the court is the center position. Right now, JaVale McGee and Ivica Zubac look set to split the minutes at center with LeBron getting time there at the end of games.
Great thing there is a way to knock out two birds with one stone. Luol Deng’s contract can be freed up and the Lakers can improve at the center position for next season. Here is how.
The Lakers can improve drastically at the center position with Nikola Vucevic as well as freeing up salary for next offseason.
Vucevic is undoubtedly an upgrade from McGree and Zubac. Vucevic averaged 16.5 points. 9.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season. He is the embodiment of the true, big-bodied center that the Lakers need offensively and defensively.
Even better, the Lakers would be committing to Vucevic for just this season before he hits the open market. That gives the team more than enough space to sign someone like Kawhi Leonard as well as some depth pieces. If Vucevic is a great fit, the Lakers could even utilize his Bird Rights on a contract extension.
Jarell Martin will not be a big difference maker and will see minimal minutes off the bench. However, he is needed in this deal to balance the contracts out and make this possible.
This makes sense for the Orlando Magic, who reportedly are shopping Vucevic after drafting center Mohamed Bamba.
Orlando would also be receiving another promising big man in Moritz Wagner that could play either center or power forward and could help the team stretch the floor. Throw in the Lakers’ 2019 first-round draft pick, which will likely be in the 25-30 range and the Magic are getting a great return for one year of Vucevic.
The Magic are in no position to realistically contend in the next two seasons. Eating the salary of Deng is a small price to pay for all of this in return.
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Quite frankly, this is probably the best realistic move that the Los Angeles Lakers can make. While there are better possibilities theoretically out there, this deal would be huge for both the Lakers and the Magic.