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Bottom line, the Los Angeles Lakers are an elite starting 3&D wing and legitimate backup rim-protecting center from being a legitimate contender for the 2026 NBA championship and must immediately fix those issues.

We sometimes forget as Rob Pelinka dings us to death with moves on the margin that the Lakers always think big. Remember the JJ Redick, Luka Doncic, and Mark Walter transactions that transformed the franchise? What I’m hoping is the Lakers continue these bold sweeping moves and pull off a blockbuster late offseason or midseason trade to land an elite 3&D starting wing and alpha shot-blocking backup defensive center.

The immediate question is how then are the Lakers going to pull off this blockbuster trade for two impactful players? We already know Pelinka has been reluctant for good reason to trade their only first round draft pick.
The benefit of retaining their only first round pick is it would allow the Lakers to offer three first round picks in a mega trade next draft day when superstars Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo could be available.

The solution that lets the Lakers trade for the elite 3&D starting wing and alpha shot-blocking backup center they need and still keep their draft capital is trading Austin Reaves, who’s worth at least two first round picks.
Trading Reaves would be a bold move but would also eliminate the risk of overpaying him based on the team’s need or losing him for nothing in free agency. Opportunity knocks: now is the time to cash in on Austin Reaves.

Trading Austin Reaves now is the smart move that will enable the Lakers to land their needed elite starting 3&D wing and alpha backup rim protecting center to dramatically improve their defense without sacrificing the future.

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1. Trade for Andrew Wiggins and Mitchell Robinson

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The New York Knicks are at a crossroads with injury-prone talented backup center Mitchell Robinson who wants a $60-70 million extension and with a Jalen Brunson dominated offense that needs to become more diverse.

Enter the Los Angeles Lakers with a blockbuster offer of Austin Reaves, the perfect backcourt mate for Jalen Brunson, in return for Mitchell Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, and the Knicks 2026 unprotected first round draft pick.
The Lakers then move the Knicks’ first round pick to the Heat along with Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Dalton Knecht for Andrew Wiggins. The Lakers add three players plus an open roster spot and save $4.2 million.

The Lakers give up 4 players including Austin Reaves, the best player in the trade, in return for 3 players, including the needed elite 3&D starting wing Andrew Wiggins and alpha shot-blocking backup center Mitchell Robinson. The trade cannot be completed until October 7th when Jordan Clarkson becomes eligible to be traded. Clarkson is the bonus on the trade as the former 6MOY would be a massive offensive upgrade coming off the bench.

The Knicks avoid the risk of overpaying an injury-prone older Mitchell Robinson or losing him to free agency for nothing and are able to land the perfect backcourt mate in Austin Reaves to share Jalen Brunson’s workload.
Landing Reaves, whose value is considered to between two and three first round picks gives the Knicks the ability to be multi-dimensional on offense and not to overwork Brunson, especially during the long regular season.

The Lakers go all-in before season to win the NBA championship by trading Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Dalton Knecht for Heat’s Andrew Wiggins and Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Clarkson.

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2. Trade for Herb Jones and Robert Williams III

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The New Orleans Pelicans are a mess. Zion Williamson can’t stay healthy, Brandon Ingram has been traded, and this is likely the season that decides whether the Pelicans ultimately give up and commit to a complete rebuild.

On July 15, the Pelicans rewarded All-Defensive First Team Herb Jones by giving him an team friendly 3-year $68 million extension to the 2-year $28 million left on his contract, essentially making him a coveted trade target.
In many ways, what the Pelicans have successfully done with Herb Jones is what the Lakers unfortunately failed to accomplish with Jarred Vanderbilt, which is transform a backup POA wing into a legitimate starting 3&D wing.

Enter the Lakers with a blockbuster offer of Austin Reaves for Herb Jones and a second round pick with Reaves as the perfect dynamic young star to give Zion and the Pelicans a last realistic shot to become a winning team.
The Lakers then move the Pelican’s second round pick along with Maxi Kleber and Dalton Knecht to the Trailblazers for Robert Williams III, who would then become the team’s alpha rim-protecting backup center.

The Lakers give up 3 players including Austin Reaves, the best player in the trade, in return for 2 players, including the needed elite 3&D starting wing Herb Jones and alpha shot-blocking backup center Robert Williams III.
The trade cannot be completed until January 15th, when Herb Jones becomes eligible to be traded. The Lakers would also have to make another midseason trade to open up cap space under the first apron to add players.

The Lakers go all-in at trade deadline to win the 2026 NBA championship trading home-grown star Austin Reaves, Maxi Kleber, and Dalton Knecht for the Pelicans’ Herb Jones and the Trailblazers’ Robert Williams III.