Los Angeles Lakers: Possible three-team trades for a star this offseason
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers front office is going to look to make moves this summer to give LeBron James the second star he needs to contend for an NBA Title.
Even before the Los Angeles Lakers signed LeBron James the narrative from Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka’s front office has been adding two superstars. In today’s NBA, that is the bare minimum needed to be a legitimate contender and the Lakers, who are riding the worst stretch in franchise history, wanted to capitalize on their allure.
The front office has delivered on half the promise, signing LeBron James on the first day of free agency last summer. However, James pretty much fell into the Lakers lap, with Los Angeles being his destination of choice, not so much the Lakers.
Since then nothing the front office has done has left a good mark. The team failed to sign Paul George and had trade talks leaked with the New Orleans Pelicans, which caused friction in the locker room.
The front office gave away Ivica Zubac to the Los Angeles Clippers in a laughable deal and now the possibility of landing a second star this summer is thin. It is better to be pessimistic after everything that has happened.
It is hard to find a two-team trade that works out for both sides that also does not completely strip the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster. However, there is potential for the Lakers to use a three-team trade, along with their lottery draft pick, to try and get something done.
Here are two three-team trades that we have come up with that would make sense for all parties involved.