The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that is consistently looking to improve their roster by any means necessary. That could also be their mentality this offseason, especially if they end up missing the playoffs this year.
A player that the Lakers have frequently been connected with is Kyrie Irving, and perhaps they could end up acquiring him this summer via a sign-and-trade. Our trade scenario features a 3-team framework, with the Los Angeles Lakers also getting Terry Rozier in this deal.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier
Dallas Mavericks Receive: D’Angelo Russell, 2023 Second-Round Pick (UTA via CHO), 2024 Second-Round Pick (BOS via CHO)
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba
This trade could potentially have benefits for all three teams involved, and there’s no doubt that it is a relatively realistic framework. Here is why each team should consider making this deal.
The Los Angeles Lakers Get Two Elite Guards
The Los Angeles Lakers could end up retaining their trade deadline acquisitions from this season, but adding a talent like Kyrie Irving could be a no-miss opportunity. His talent is absolutely worth it, and he has shown that he can win a championship next to LeBron James in the past. They would also get a guard like Terry Rozier, who can provide a scoring punch in the starting lineup or come off the bench to provide an offensive spark.
Making a sign-and-trade for Kyrie Irving involving D’Angelo Russell is a no-brainer for the Los Angeles Lakers, as it will definitely increase their overall talent as a team. After all, Kyrie Irving is an All-NBA level player when healthy, and he would make the Lakers the favorites to win the championship in the Western Conference.
Moving Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba for Terry Rozier could work out as well, as Rozier is a more potent scorer overall than Beasley, and could do even better on a team where he plays with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
This would be a bit of a win-now deal for the Los Angeles Lakers, as Rozier and Irving are players that are on the older side. However, the talent increase would be worth it, as they would have a better chance of winning a championship. Adding two elite shot-creators would vastly improve their offense, and they wouldn’t give up any defensive personnel in this deal, either.
The Dallas Mavericks Get A Solid Kyrie Irving Replacement
If the Dallas Mavericks are going to lose Kyrie Irving in free agency anyways, then getting something in return for him in a sign-and-trade is going to be a priority for the franchise. If they are able to get a quality player like D’Angelo Russell to pair with Luka Doncic, then it’ll be a solid outcome.
As of right now, D’Angelo Russell is averaging 17.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 6.2 APG on the season, and he could potentially increase his production even further when given an opportunity to be the No. 2 offensive option on the Dallas Mavericks. Getting him simply to facilitate Kyrie Irving’s move to the Lakers would be fantastic, and would also help the Dallas Mavericks remain competitive during the Luka Doncic era. They would also get minor draft compensation from the Charlotte Hornets, to reflect the difference in value between D’Angelo Russell and Kyrie Irving.
For the Dallas Mavericks, this is simply about good team management. If they are able to get a point guard in his prime like D’Angelo Russell, for a player that was going to leave the team anyway, then it is the obvious choice to make.
The Hornets Get Salary Relief And Two Decent Role Players
Terry Rozier has a long-term deal with the Charlotte Hornets, and it is possible that the franchise will try to move him this offseason, to get his salary off the books and allow the younger players on the roster to get more touches. The two second-round picks would be the required draft compensation to get the deal done and move Rozier’s contract.
The Hornets will get the expiring contracts of Mo Bamba and Malik Beasley in this deal, and they are both players that are still young enough to be part of the next iteration of the Hornets. Malik Beasley profiles as a solid 3PT shooter, while Mo Bamba could eventually be a big man who is a rim protector and can space the floor. They would get ample playing time on the Hornets, and depending on the results, the team could either retain them or let them go.
This deal would simply be about the financial aspect for the Charlotte Hornets. Moving Terry Rozier allows them to get younger while also giving them more overall flexibility in the future.
This Deal Could Work Well For All Three Teams
This deal could potentially be a solid proposition for all three teams involved. For the Dallas Mavericks, it is about getting a solid offensive player in return for a departing free agent. As for the Charlotte Hornets, trading Terry Rozier would likely be done due to the team trying to clear salary and have the cap space to sign other players that are more of a priority.
The Los Angeles Lakers would stand to gain a lot from this deal, as they would be able to get two key players that can make them a championship team from an offensive standpoint. They would vastly improve their scoring abilities while potentially being able to retain key defensive players such as Jarred Vanderbilt and could easily end up being one of the top teams in the Western Conference.
It’ll be interesting to see what these three teams will end up doing in the offseason. All of them have reasons to change up their rosters. This trade could end up being a winning move for all three teams, and we’ll see what ends up happening in the future.
Source: fadeawayworld
