Lakers Rumors: Potential third teams in Lakers-Pelicans trade

2. Detroit Pistons

You might be scratching your head a bit at the idea of the Detroit Pistons want to trade for Lonzo Ball. And while it is a bit outside of the box, we did come up with a pretty fun three-team trade that we think could benefit everyone involved.

Instead of the Pelicans getting a bunch of young pieces, this deal would have the team getting an established player that would hopefully convince Jrue Holiday to also not request a trade and potentially flip the turnaround even quicker than it otherwise would have been.

It is also clear that the Pistons are not really going to go anywhere with the Blake Griffin–Andre Drummond tandem. So, the team should look to deal one of the big men. Another Griffin trade would be interesting, but we are going to go with Drummond.

In our mock trade, we have the Pelicans acquiring Drummond, Brandon Ingram, Moritz Wagner and an unprotected first from the Los Angeles Lakers. Detroit is acquiring Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Wesley Johnson and Ivica Zubac. KCP and Johnson are expiring salary dumps with Ball and Zubac being the pieces to build around alongside Griffin.

That is more than a fair return on the Drummond investment and for all of that, the Lakers get Anthony Davis. Including a third team like the Pistons, who are better off trading Drummond, helps the Lakers keep at least one of the young core pieces in Kyle Kuzma.

And yes, we know Detroit has Reggie Jackson to play point guard. He has been just okay as a point guard and can play the two alongside Ball.