Los Angeles Lakers: Nikola Vucevic can be the difference for a Finals push

The Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling without LeBron James in the lineup but should still be looking to add pieces to make an NBA Finals push.

Things have been gloomy for the Los Angeles Lakers since LeBron James suffered a groin injury on Christmas Day. We are nearing a month since the incident and James is still not in action, despite it seeming like he would only be out of action a week.

The Lakers are understandably being cautious with James, especially with Lonzo Ball now sitting out as well. The worst thing the front office can do is rush James back into action, risk re-injury and lose him when the games really matter.

Because as frustrating as it has been and as bad as the Lakers have looked at times, January NBA games do not mean a whole lot. They really don’t.

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James, Ball and Rajon Rondo will all eventually be back and will push the Lakers back into a playoff seed and try to shock the world in the postseason. While the Golden State Warriors might appear unbeatable in a playoff series with DeMarcus Cousins, anything is possible with James leading the way.

The Los Angeles Lakers do still need to add pieces to better the team’s chances of getting over that mountain. Perhaps the most interesting piece to add, and one that we have been campaigning for before the season even began, is Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic.

While we did not expect Vucevic to play as he has this season, he has always been a logical trade target for the Lakers. He undoubtedly makes the team better at the center position and plays on a team that should be looking to deal him.

Although he is playing at an all-star level, averaging 20.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, the Magic would be better suited in dealing Vucevic.

First and foremost he is on an expiring contract and is likely going to ask for a pretty big payday after most likely being an all-star this season. Orlando might not be willing to match a big offer, especially considering the team just drafted a center in Mohamed Bamba with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Might as well trade half a season of Vucevic than let him walk for free, especially when the Magic are not in a position to contend for anything, let alone make the playoffs.

I like the idea of trading Moritz Wagner, who isn’t getting playing time anyways and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Vucevic. Sure, trading a first-round pick might be daunting but that pick is going to be a late-round pick anyway and is going to fall in the same boat at Wagner right now.

That gives the Lakers two bonafide all-stars in the starting lineup with LeBron and Vucevic and the rest of the young core, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, rounding out the starting five. While the young core has struggled without LeBron, that cast is definitely talented enough to go place with LeBron.

The best part? The Lakers would still have the same cap space in the offseason to bring in another star. The added benefit is they would have Vucevic in their back pocket in case another star does not sign with LA.

If another star does join the Los Angeles Lakers, the front office can simply utilize Vucevic’s Bird Rights, which they would acquire by trading for him, to go over the cap.