Jalen Green's future at the Rockets has been in question ever since he signed the 'trade friendly' contract extension last summer. After struggling against the Warriors in his first playoff experience, many believed that his chance to be the face of the franchise is over. This further put his future with the team in peril as they look to become a serious title contender soon.
According to Bovada, the betting sportsbook, the Lakers are the favorites to land Jalen Green if the Rockets decide his future with the team is over. The former California native could return to LA if his time in Houston is over after struggling in these Playoffs. But this is dependent upon the Rockets and whether or not they have the patience to let him gain the Playoff experience he needs to grow as a player.
With an aging LeBron James nearing his retirement and Austin Reaves struggling in the Playoffs, the Lakers are likely to look for a reliable No. 2 option for scoring after Luka Doncic. But is Jalen Green the answer to the Lakers' problems?
Assessing Jalen Green's Fit With The Lakers
If the Lakers do decide to make a move for Jalen Green, they will arguably be investing in a shooting guard who has the potential upside, which is second only to Anthony Edwards in the league. Drafted in the same season as the Rockets' All-Star Alperen Sengun, Green had a lot of expectations on his shoulders as the second overall pick in his draft class. His athleticism, combined with the ability to score on all three levels, will make him a dynamic addition to the Lakers. His unreal athleticism also makes him a lob threat that Luka Doncic was looking for, even as a guard.
However, he faces similar defensive concerns that plagued Doncic after the Lakers' elimination from the Playoffs. On several occasions this season, Ime Udoka benched the young star due to his lack of effort on defense. His defensive rating was 113.1 in the regular season, which was ranked 13th in a roster of 18 players for the Rockets. (second lowest among regular starters).
Moreover, other than Game 2 of the series against the Warriors, Green also struggled to produce on the offensive end of the floor. Green has averaged only 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in seven games in the playoffs. That's nearly an eight-point drop from his regular season average of 21.0 points per game. He acknowledged that his lack of experience in the Playoffs is not an excuse for performing so poorly.
The main issue he faced with the Rockets during the Playoffs was that, beyond him, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, to some extent, there wasn't a perimeter threat that regularly played for the Rockets. Hence, despite Alperen Sengun being a massive threat inside the paint, Green was constantly blitzed and double-teamed on the perimeter. With Luka Doncic commanding a similar amount of attention from the perimeter defenders, Green could play a lot more freely if he were to join the Lakers. But it is important to note that the next progression in his basketball growth would be to learn how to handle double teams from opponents.
In conclusion, no matter how good a player is on offense, the Lakers-Timberwolves series showed the Lakers that defense is key in winning important games of the season. As the Lakers look to improve on defense, Green may not be the best addition to the team. If the Lakers decide to trade for Green, the Rockets will likely seek Austin Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith in return, with some draft assets as well. So the Lakers will be in a tough spot to decide whether they are willing to give up Reaves and Finney-Smith to make a risky investment in Green. Therefore, we conclude, this trade may likely never happen.
