Nine games into the season, the Los Angeles Lakers are 5-4, slightly better than last year’s 4-5 start under coach Darvin Ham. Considering this is JJ Redick’s first season as the Lakers head coach, they can’t be too disappointed with the results.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of room for improvement for a Lakers team that has suffered a 24-point loss to Cleveland, a 12-point loss to Detroit, and a 17-point loss to Memphis. With the Lakers ranked 11th in scoring and 24th in points allowed, it’s pretty clear where the growth needs to come from.
So, aside from their existing players stepping up their play, how can the Lakers get better on defense? Turning to the trade market could be the next move, and now we know who two of the Lakers’ trade targets are.
Related: What Would Trading For Walker Kessler Mean For The Los Angeles Lakers?
Los Angeles Lakers trade targets include Brook Lopez and Jonas Valanciunas
One of the issues with assuming the Los Angeles Lakers will become a better defense over time without making roster changes is the fact that they also ranked 23rd in points allowed last year under Coach Ham. If their struggles continue, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Lakers got more aggressive in search of a long-term upgrade.
If so, expect D’Angelo Russell to be one of the key outgoing pieces in any Lakers trade, where they’d likely target a center, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer. He also notes which two centers the Lakers have long had their eye on.
“The Lakers, I definitely think are going to be a factor in the trade market. The trade things that we absolutely know to be true, D’Angelo Russell is going to be on the block, and is going to be available as outgoing salary. Roughly $20 million to play with there, and the center spot is a spot that we know Los Angeles has been looking to upgrade and will be looking to upgrade. Brook Lopez is someone that I was told is on the Lakers list of potential center targets this past summer. Jonas Valanciunas is another name I would keep an eye on. He’s someone I was told over the summer is on the Lakers’ internal board.”
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer on Los Angeles Lakers
Brook Lopez is 36, but the one-time All-Star is just two years removed from finishing as the runner-up to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s still one of the best rim protectors in basketball, averaging two blocks per game.
The two-time All-NBA defender is in the final year of his contract, earning a $23M salary for a Bucks team that is just 2-7. If Milwaukee’s season spirals out of control, trading Lopez sooner rather than later would make sense for everyone involved. Yet, how quickly the Bucks would be willing to throw the towel in on their season remains to be seen.
As for Valanciunas, he was mentioned as one of the players LeBron James was reportedly willing to take a pay cut for if the Lakers could add him to the roster this past offseason. Surprisingly, Valanciunas ended up signing a three-year, $30.25 million contract with the Washington Wizards.
Yet, with the Wizards out to an early 2-5 start, it may only be a matter of time before Valanciunas hits the trade block too. However, since he signed a contract this past offseason, Valanciunas cannot be traded until December 15th at the earliest.
Related: JJ Redick Puts D’Angelo Russell On The Chopping Block