The 2023-24 Lakers ended in the first round of the playoffs, and their disappointing record raised questions about the team's strength. However, the Lakers in the offseason did little and did little to improve the roster by bringing in quality role players, which worried many fans. Still, as long as LeBron· James and Anthony · Davis are around, the Lakers will stick to their "win now" model and will be looking to make their roster more competitive through signings in the mid-season trade window. In response, the United States media recommended reinforcements for the Lakers in six mid-term trades, each of which was designed to be built around the characteristics of the James Mei combination.
Trade One: Lakers vs Magic
Lakers get: Goga · Bitadze
Magic gets: Gabe · Vincent + Jackson · Hayes + 2025 second-round pick + 2027 second-round pick
Anthony · Davis has always publicly stated that he prefers to play the number four position rather than the number five position and wants to have a traditional interior partner with him. While the Lakers brought in Jackson · Hayes in the offseason, his height, confrontation ability and defense weren't enough to make Davis' ideal partner. The Magic have a lot of interior players, Wendell Jr· Carter and Franz · Wagner almost locked in the starters, resulting in Bitadze's playing time and role very limited.
Bitadze's height, rebounding, and defensive ability are all things the Lakers desperately need. Coupled with his relatively friendly three-year, $25 million contract, the Lakers sending out manageable expiring contracts like Vincent and Hayes through trades, as well as future second-round picks, could also use those chips to accelerate a rebuild. Such a trade would allow the Lakers to get an excellent interior rotation that would solve Davis' problem as a partner at the No. 4 position.
Trade 2: Lakers vs Magic
Lakers get: Jonathan · Isaac
Magic gets: Jared · Vanderbilt + Hachimura
Isaac is a talented power forward, with outstanding height and arms, and extremely well-rounded defensive ability, especially his defensive coverage and rebounding ability can bring a lot of help to the Lakers' frontcourt. However, Isaac's injury history has always been a concern, and he has played little in recent years, which has also made the Magic doubt about his future.
The Magic frontcourt was already crowded, and Isaac's presence was somewhat redundant. The Lakers could seize the opportunity and use Vanderbilt and Hachimura as trade chips in exchange for the versatile defensive forward. While Hachimura and Vanderbilt were both important rotation players for the Lakers last season, their defensive performance was not great, especially on the offensive end, and Isaac could undoubtedly provide the Lakers with a more threatening defensive option if he can stay healthy.
Trade Three: Lakers vs Nets
Lakers get: Finney-Smith
Nets get: Gabe · Vincent + Jackson · Hayes + 2025 second-round pick
The Nets got back their first-round pick in the offseason in a trade with the Rockets for years to come, which allowed them to go all-in on a rebuild. The Nets are likely to enter a "bottomless pendulum" mode in the new season, with the team making rebuilding their primary goal. As a result, a player like Finney-Smith, who has a multi-year contract and doesn't fit the pace of the rebuild, will be part of their trade chips.
For the Lakers, Finney-Smith is a valuable 3-and-D player in the James Mei system. His excellent defense and reliable three-point shooting are exactly the elements that the Lakers lack. By sending expiring contracts like Vincent and Hayes, as well as a future second-round pick, the Lakers could fill the defensive void at forward and give the James-eyed duo more room to shoot.
Trade Four: Lakers vs. Trail Blazers
Lakers get: Malcolm · Brogdon
Trail Blazers get: D'Angelo · Russell + Jalen · Hood-Schifino
Brogdon, who has won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award, is a perfect match for the Lakers' defense, playmaking and three-point shooting. In contrast, Russell's disappointing playoff performance last season, especially on the defensive end and ups and downs on the offensive end, made the Lakers waver about his future plans. And rookie Hood Schifino didn't perform as well as he should.
While Brogdon's health has been an issue, his arrival will greatly improve the Lakers' depth and consistency on the guard line if the Lakers want to be more competitive in the playoffs. However, the Trail Blazers are in the early stages of a rebuild and don't need a player like Russell, and the two sides may need to find a third-party team to broker the deal.
Trade Five: Lakers vs. Raptors
Lakers get: Bruce · Brown
The Raptors get: Hachimura + Jackson · Hayes + a 2025 second-round pick
The Raptors acquired Bruce · Brown in previous trades, but did not intend to keep him for a long time and even put him on the trade shelf early. Brown's defense and versatility are a perfect fit for the Lakers' system. If James returns to the No. 1 spot and Davis improves his outside shooting, then Brown is undoubtedly a piece of the puzzle on the Lakers' lineup.
Brown's contract is expiring and he underwent surgery in the offseason, and the Raptors are reluctant to keep him. The Lakers could trade Hachimura, Hayes and a second-round pick for the defensive stalwarts. Brown's arrival will further improve the quality of the Lakers' defense on the perimeter, and also give the Lakers more flexibility to adjust the lineup.
Trade Six: Lakers vs Jazz
Lakers get: Jordan · Clarkson
Jazz get: Gabe · Vincent + Jackson · Hayes + 2025 second-round pick + 2027 second-round pick
Clarkson, who played for the Lakers, has the bench scoring ability and mess-up ability that the Lakers need. Although his three-point shooting percentage is only 29.4%, which is not a high overall efficiency, he can provide the Lakers with consistent bench firepower, especially in the transition period after Zhan Mei is off the court.
The Jazz are in a rebuilding phase, and Clarkson's contract doesn't have much long-term value for them. By sending Vincent, Hayes and several future second-round picks, the Lakers could get a player who can immediately improve the offensive firepower of the bench, which makes a lot of sense for a championship-contending team.