Lakers need to overhaul roster around Luka Dončić and LeBron James: 5 trade targets for L.A. https://t.co/bxoDilStfq via @@YahooSports— LakerTom (@LakerTom) May 3, 2025
Lakers need to overhaul roster around Luka Dončić and LeBron James: 5 trade targets for L.A.
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May 3, 2025 3 Comments
FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
With all that in mind, and safely assuming that LeBron doesn’t want to hang it up, here are five trade targets to maximize the Luka-LeBron pairing:
1. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jarrett Allen
C – CLE – #31
2024 – 2025 season
13.5 Pts, 9.7 Reb, 1.9 Ast, 0.9 Blk, 28:00 Min
The proposal
Lakers receive:
-Jarrett Allen
Cavs receive:
-Austin Reaves
-Dalton Knecht
-Unprotected 2031 first-rounder
-Pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032
Once Cleveland inked Evan Mobley to a max extension last July, the writing was on the wall for the Core Four. Mobley’s contract explodes from $11.2 million in 2024-25 to $38.7 million in 2025-26, the first of a massive five-year pact, pushing the Cavs’ payroll deeper into the 2025-26 tax than all but two teams (Boston and Phoenix). For a small market like Cleveland, something’s got to give and, unfortunately, Allen may be the odd man out.
For the Lakers, the appeal is obvious. Allen, a one-time All-Star squarely in his prime (he turned 27 last week), would immediately step in as an ideal low-usage lob threat and defensive anchor. Plus, he has four fully guaranteed years left on his contract, starting at $20 million in 2025-26.
For the Cavs, Mobley’s Defensive Player of the Year ascension makes an Allen trade easier to swallow, especially if it brings in Reaves, a dynamic wing who can boost the team’s playmaking and foul-drawing on the perimeter. The Cavs would shave money off their hefty tax bill and still flex a formidable starting five of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Reaves, De’Andre Hunter and Mobley. An early exit in the playoffs would make an Allen deal more plausible, but no less painful.
2. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr.
C – MEM – #13
2024 – 2025 season
22.2 Pts, 5.6 Reb, 2 Ast, 1.5 Blk, 29:49 Min
-The proposal
Lakers receive:
-Jaren Jackson Jr.
-Brandon Clarke
Grizzlies receive:
-Austin Reaves
-Rui Hachimura
-Dalton Knecht
-Unprotected 2031 first-rounder
-Pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032
Will the Grizzlies fully smash the reset button after a disastrous finish to the season that included GM Zach Kleiman firing Taylor Jenkins right before the postseason and the team getting swept in the first round? We’ll see what happens this offseason with Ja Morant and Jackson.
The latter could have signed an extension before the season but decided against it, opting for the possibility he could make All-NBA this season and become eligible for a supermax extension bump. He has an expiring deal at a reasonable $25 million for 2025-26 after which the 25-year-old can become a free agent. Rather than risk letting the former Defensive Player of the Year walk for nothing, the Grizzlies could bring Reaves “home” to Memphis, just 100 miles away from the Newark, Arkansas, farm on which he was raised.
This season, Reaves joined Fred VanVleet as the only two undrafted players in NBA history to average 20 points and five assists on a winning team. Like Allen above, the Lakers would have to put all their chips in the middle. With Jackson’s uncertain future and Reaves’ local ties, this is certainly a situation to monitor.
3. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
Walker Kessler
C – UTA – #24
IR
2024 – 2025 season
11.1 Pts, 12.2 Reb, 1.7 Ast, 2.4 Blk, 30:00 Min
The proposal
Lakers receive:
-Walker Kessler
Jazz receive:
-Dalton Knecht
-Unprotected 2032 first-rounder
-Pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030, 2031
This is the Mark Williams offer but with three more pick swaps and the first-round pick being one year later than the one Pelinka was willing to send to Charlotte. I’m not even sure Utah bites unless Reaves is part of the package, especially considering the Jazz may feel a certain way after unknowingly greasing the cap wheels for the Dončić trade in the first place. Kessler is set to earn less than $5 million next season, giving him one of the most team-friendly contracts in the league. Granted, he’s due for an extension this summer, so his discount has an expiration date on the horizon.
For the Jazz to trade the 23-year-old now, without seeing how he fits next to their incoming top-five pick, they’d be justified to ask for a king’s ransom.
Yes, it’s hard to reconcile Kessler’s elite block rates with Utah owning two of the worst defensive ratings in NBA history with him as the defensive anchor. That said, I’d be willing to bet on Kessler in a winning environment and not whatever Utah has been trying to do the past two seasons. A larger deal involving Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton’s expiring contracts can be explored with Reaves, but I don’t see the Lakers throwing him into a deal unless it’s for a bankable star. Kessler isn’t that, but he’s also an upgrade over Mark Williams.
4. Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic
Wendell Carter Jr.
C – ORL – #34
2024 – 2025 season
9.1 Pts, 7.2 Reb, 2 Ast, 0.6 Blk, 25:51 Min
The proposal
Lakers receive:
-Wendell Carter Jr.
Magic receive:
-Dalton Knecht
-Shake Milton
-Unprotected 2031 first-rounder
-Pick swaps in 2028 and 2030
The Lakers and Magic seem like ideal trade partners. The defensively rich Magic desperately need an offensive injection (hello, Knecht!) and have the luxury of two springy centers who deserve a full-time starting role: Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze.
Both would represent a significant upgrade over Jaxson Hayes, who struggled to gain the confidence of Redick this season. I much prefer Carter Jr.’s physicality compared to the Duke product that the Lakers almost acquired at the deadline, Mark Williams.
Playing without a true point guard for most of his career, Carter Jr. has some untapped Daniel Gafford lob potential. Last season, Carter Jr. flushed 19 alley-oop dunks with an average vertical of 27.6 inches, clearing Allen (27.3), Jackson (26.5) and Kessler (21.6) on this list. Put Carter Jr. next to LeBron and Luka and I think he’d thrive. An added bonus, he’s under contract for the next four seasons at a very moveable $17.4 million average annual salary.
5. Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
Isaiah Stewart
C – DET – #28
IR
2024 – 2025 season
6 Pts, 5.5 Reb, 1.7 Ast, 1.4 Blk, 19:55 Min
The proposal
Lakers receive:
-Stewart
-Lindy Waters III
Pistons receive:
-Dalton Knecht
-Gabe Vincent
-Shake Milton
-Two pick swaps in 2026 and 2028
Beef Stew and LeBron James may have some, well, beef dating back to the 2021 tussle in which both were suspended, but if James wants an elite rim protector, it’ll be harder to find one better than Detroit’s 23-year-old center.
Stewart took a backseat to rising star Jalen Duren in 2024-25, but with a near 7-foot-5 wingspan, Stewart remains a monster in the paint. This past season, Stewart led all players in defensive field-goal percentage at the rim, allowing just 46% shooting by the basket while nearby, according to NBA.com player-tracking data (min. over 200 shots defended).
Stewart may not be a star like the targets above, but he’s certainly a star in his role, owning the boards and ranking among the league leaders in block rate. Over the next three seasons, Stewart is set to make $15 million (team option in 2027-28), which would allow the Lakers some cap flexibility to build around their starry core.
As for the Pistons, they acquire much-needed backcourt depth (Dennis Schröder, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley are all free agents) and one of the most promising young shooters in Knecht to flank Cade Cunningham. I could see the Pistons demanding a first-round pick if they were to part with Stewart, but Knecht’s upside as a sharpshooter could be enough.
When Kyrie Irving was traded to Dallas, he and Luka were losing just about every game and did not make the playoffs. However, last season, they had the privilege of starting from training camp and eventually ended up going to the NBA finals. So I do believe that, having gone through the next training camp, the chemistry would be much better. But the Lakers need to add depth to the team. A team with no bench wouldn’t make it.
I saw one bad article that mentioned a trade for Nic Claxton…I would not do this trade at all…I think it mentioned Reaves in that trade and of course, more assets and trade picks or pick swaps. Claxton weighs 10 lbs less than Jaxson Hayes…and why bother trading assets for a 2nd string center (which Hayes is in reality)…Lakers need some bulk in the center slot…if only Alex Len and Max Kleber could be injected with tons of talent…..I say retain Reaves and Hachimura…and only include Knecht in a package for a true starting center. Vanderbilt is tradable as well…..& I….. (we been there before)….