Los Angeles Lakers: Trade deadline targets that would help a playoff push

3. Kemba Walker, PG

Let me paint a picture for you:

Stephen Curry‘s ankles are acting up again and late in the season he has to sit out and is never full strength. Kevin Durant suffers a freak injury similar to Gordon Hayward and DeMarcus Cousins cannot come back right away at even 75 percent from his Achilles injury.

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While injuries are something we will never root for here at LA Sports Hub, or even want to happen, there is a conceivable reality where the door swings wide open in the Western Conference. The Golden State Warriors have gotten really lucky with their health during this run. Anything can happen.

If that is the case, LeBron and the Lakers would suddenly have a really good shot at not only making the NBA Finals but winning it all. All the team would need to do is add a second star that will not tie the team down long-term but can help make a title push that season.

The perfect man for the job is Kemba Walker, who is on an expiring contract and is only owed $12 million this season.

If the Lakers were going to make this deal, the team would likely have to trade Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Josh Hart and an unprotected 2019 first-round pick. Perhaps the team could get away with including someone like Michael Beasley instead of KCP to keep depth at guard, but regardless, it will take a middle-tier contract.

It would be sad to see Hart go but it would be a move I would be willing to make as the Lakers front office if I am anticipating Klay Thompson to come to the team the ensuing summer.

The Lakers could then run a positionless backcourt with Lonzo Ball and Kemba Walker with Rajon Rondo and KCP coming off the bench. If the Walker-LeBron pairing really works, the team could even utilize his Bird Rights to go over the cap and create a new big three.

While the chances of this being a long-term partnership are slim, bringing in Kemba Walker if the door opens in the West is not a crazy idea.