The Los Angeles Lakers seem set on having a quiet offseason which sees limited roster turnover to give their group from last season a chance under new head coach JJ Redick. While Dalton Knecht and Bronny James have joined the team, the core of the Lakers is nearly identical to last season, sans Taurean Prince. Even if Redick can optimize the margins, the Lakers will struggle to be a relevant title threat without boosting their roster.
One of the biggest issues for the Lakers was offensive creation, as the team was nearly entirely reliant upon LeBron James to create opportunities, with the team cratering off in minutes LeBron spent on the bench. They need offensive reinforcements, especially because they were one of the best defenses in the NBA last season. They could make a deal with the Clippers and Blazers to solidify their roster.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Norman Powell, Anfernee Simons
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Rui Hachimura
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)
The Lakers lose some key players and a juicy future pick but get two certified scorers in return. While Simons can plug any holes in the starting backcourt alongside Austin Reaves, Powell can continue thriving in a sixth-man role to help the Lakers bench keep the offensive pressure up. The Clippers get another versatile wing on their roster while the Blazers get one of the most coveted future picks in the NBA right now.
The Lakers Add Multi-Faceted Guard Scorers
The Lakers had a league-average offensive rating of 115.9, nearly eight points off the league-leading Celtics. The Lakers are competing to win titles, with anything lesser than that not cutting the mustard on a franchise employing both LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Fighting to be out of the Play-In tournament all season just to be handed a first-round matchup against a favorite shouldn't be this team's goal, which is why this trade is necessary.
Simons averaged 22.6 points and 5.5 assists last season. He looks out of place in Portland with the emergence of a backcourt with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, but he should be a great fit on the Lakers. He's a combo guard who can pass well enough to run an offense, but shouldn't be categorized as a playmaking guard. He and Austin Reaves would combine to create a fun backcourt that can score at will.
Norman Powell averaged 13.9 points last season. He had peaks and troughs with the Clippers last season. He would be a serviceable scorer off the bench or could start alongside Reaves or Simons to add a bit more of a perimeter defensive threat.
After this deal, the Lakers would primarily rely on a guard trio of Reaves, Simons, and Powell, with Gabe Vincent's health deciding if he'll be getting any minutes. LeBron will naturally float into a playmaker role for these guards when required but won't have to play upwards of 32 minutes every game in Year 22 because this talent will be able to carry the offense when he's off the floor.
The Clippers Get A Cheap Upgrade
The Los Angeles Clippers are heading into a confusing season, as they hope to contend despite losing key star Paul George in free agency. They've used the additional cap room to acquire the likes of Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., and Kevin Porter Jr., adding more hands to feed in the rotation while clearly pivoting towards an added defensive focus.
Rui Hachimura averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds last season, playing big minutes in the latter half of the season and the Playoffs. He has shown an ability to fit into any system and a willingness to adapt his style of play. He can be a switchable defender along with a three-level scorer. While he doesn't execute his skills to the highest level every time he plays, his ability makes him a constant threat that the Clippers would like to be backup power forward to the perenially injured Kawhi Leonard.
Powell has seen his role on the Clippers reduce over the last season, indicating where the winds are blowing. Picking up Hachimura, who's a younger player and makes less money than Powell would be a big win for the Clippers. While they'll have some thought to put into offensive production, the value here is too good for them to pass up on.
The Trail Blazers Look To The Future
The Portland Trail Blazers won't give Anfernee Simons away for a cheap price, even if he's surplus to requirements on the team. This deal draws enough blood for them to make them satisfied with it. The team is clearly in full tank mode, so a player like Simons going out and being replaced by the streaky D'Angelo Russell and unproven young guard Jalen Hood-Schifino could align with the Blazers' short-term plans.
Russell averaged 18.0 points and 6.3 assists last season. He is a talented point guard who could have value on a different contending team, so the Blazers could gain additional assets by flipping him. Regardless, he's on an expiring contract, so the Blazers shouldn't be tied up in the Russell business for beyond a season. Hood-Schifino could turn out to be valuable but we've barely seen him get an opportunity in the NBA, so the Blazers could be the perfect development center for him.
Before Simons' value dips as he nears the end of his contract, moving him off and getting a highly coveted draft pick would be great for the Blazers. Getting that 2029 pick could be a game-changer, as the Lakers have minimal future equity and an aging core. While they push their chips to win now, the Blazers will hope they can cash them five years from now.
All Teams Advance In Their Respective Goals
This deal has it all for all three teams. The Blazers get solid value for a high-scoring volume guard who might not have a future on their team. Teams aren't giving up first-round picks for rotational players like they were five years ago, so getting an unprotected first for a distressed asset along with a talented young player and a veteran is solid value.
The Clippers get to upgrade their roster by subbing out Powell for Hachimura for no extra cost. The fragility of Kawhi Leonard necessitates the Clippers have a talented backup in his position, Right now, Kobe Brown is the backup power forward on the roster so acquiring Hachimura, who could even start alongside Kawhi if needed, is a great get.
The Lakers pay the most to gain the most, as they add two talented perimeter scorers on a team that has struggled to score from the perimeter for the last few seasons. They're both secondary ball-handlers as well, giving the Lakers the offensive versatility that can fully exploit LeBron's playmaking talents while allowing the defense to continue smothering opponents while knowing the offense can hold up their end.
