Lakers Land Young All-Star in Latest Blockbuster Mock Trade Proposal

Despite having intriguing trade assets, the Los Angeles Lakers have yet to make any moves this summer. GM Rob Pelinka is sitting on two first-round picks, multiple pick swaps, young prospects like Dalton Knecht and Jalen Hood-Schifino, and matching salaries of D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt that he can use on a potential deal. How big of a star this package can net the Lakers remains to be seen.

Grant Hughes of The Bleacher Report thinks it can bring back an All-Star caliber young player to Los Angeles. In his mock trade proposal, Hughes has the Lakers trade for LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. His trade scenario looks like this:

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: LaMelo Ball

Charlotte Hornets Receive: Kevin Huerter, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, 2026 first-round swap, 2028 first-round swap, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick, three second-round picks

Sacramento Kings Receive: Rui Hachimura

This would be an obvious home run for the Lakers. The team desperately needs a third star next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They need this star to be an offensive engine that can take some of the offensive burden off LeBron in his age-40 season. LaMelo Ball fits that profile perfectly.

This would mean a return home and a fresh start for the Los Angeles native Ball. The 22-year-old guard struggled to stay healthy after his All-Star campaign in the 2021-22 season, only appearing in 58 games in the last two years. When he is on the court, he is one of the most electric young players in the league with his elite off-the-dribble shooting, ball-handling, and playmaking.

In this trade, the Lakers give up all of their trade assets but it is certainly worth it for the talent upgrade. It is hard to see Los Angeles being able to trade for a better player than Ball on the market.

Even though this package is everything the Lakers can realistically offer except for Austin Reaves, it's likely not enough of a return for Charlotte. Ball is still 22 years old and they will probably want to see what the healthy version of him can do under new head coach Charles Lee.

As dream of a scenario as this would be for the Lakers, it's hard to see the Hornets parting ways with their franchise cornerstone without landing at least one high-level young player in return.

More Lakers news and rumors: