It was revealed that the Lakers are eyeing the two major stars of the Cavaliers: there may be a blockbuster trade on draft night to upgrade the lineup to retain James

Rowe said the NBA

2024-05-12 11:12Posted in Fujian Sports Creators

On May 12, Beijing time, the Cavaliers lost to the Celtics 93-106, falling behind 1-2 in total. Mitchell had 33 points, six rebounds and three assists in the air, and he was 7-of-12 from three-point range. Allen continues to be sidelined due to injury. Ahead of this game, The Athletic reporter Jovan Buha revealed that the Lakers are interested in both of the Cavaliers' stars and could potentially pursue them through a draft night trade.

The Lakers have the No. 17 and No. 55 picks in this year's draft, and in the draft, the Lakers can trade with up to three first-round picks.

"The Lakers will be considering trading the No. 17 pick on draft night, which would be the first time they have access to all three tradable first-round picks, and it's a great opportunity for them to potentially acquire a third star or improve the roster by bringing one, two, or even three of those picks together."

Buha noted that the Lakers are expected to be proactive and try to make the most of those chips. With a first-round exit this year, it was thought that the lineup could be improved. Now, whether it's a blockbuster trade like trading Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell or Dejounte Murray, or a smaller deal like bringing in a 3-and-D wing or another big man, remains to be seen, but the Lakers will explore their options on draft night. ”

In addition to Mitchell, Buha also mentioned another Cavaliers star, Jarrett Allen, and said that the possibility of the Lakers getting Allen is very realistic. "The Lakers have a number of ways to make this trade, and the basis of the trade will most likely have to include Hachimura, although it could be Vanderbilt or Vincent."

Mitchell is a playoff-certified star who plays with energy, a three-point threat and a good passing, and he's a perfect match for James. As for bringing in Allen, it can allow the Lakers to improve their defense against centers such as Jokic and return Bush to the No. 4 position he is more comfortable with.

Buha also specifically mentioned that the Lakers are likely to trade for another purpose, which is to upgrade the roster to keep James. "The Lakers are going to be very active, and the most important thing is that a few days after the draft, James can decide whether to jump out of the contract or not, and no matter how he chooses, James' future will depend in part on how well the Lakers perform in the draft, their aggressiveness in terms of recruitment, and their promotion in various positions."

It was previously reported that Mitchell is expected to request a trade from the team to leave Cleveland if the Cavaliers are unable to win a championship. Mitchell has two years left on his contract, $35.41 million for the 2024-25 season and a player option for the 2025-26 season, worth $37.09 million, which means he could become a free agent as early as the summer of 2025. Allen also has two years left on his contract, $20 million for the 2024-25 season and $20 million for the 2025-26 season.

In the 2023-24 regular season, Mitchell played in 55 games, averaging 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, and Allen played in 77 games, averaging 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

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