Los Angeles Lakers: Breaking down a potential trade for P.J. Tucker

Breaking down a potential trade for P.J. Tucker (via @EatYourReedies) https://t.co/SEm21EyKgM

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) February 23, 2021

LAKERS GET
P.J. TUCKER

ROCKETS GET
MARKIEFF MORRIS,
QUINN COOK, ALFONZO MCKINNIE,
DEVONTAE CACOK, 2024 SECOND-ROUND PICK

The main assets that they are getting from the Lakers are the second-round pick and Devontae Cacok.

…

How a Tucker trade could also lead to Boogie (via @EatYourReedies) https://t.co/KChiWLn2VJ

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) February 23, 2021

The Rockets can still get value for Cousins and that is where this trade for Tucker comes in. The Lakers are going to have to trade several role players for Tucker to make the salaries work. This is not something the Rockets should really be interested in, though, as they want future talent and assets.

The most value in the package was young big man Devontae Cacok, who can take over for Boogie in the rotation and provide the smaller outlook at center that the team is going with in Christian Wood, and a future second-round pick.

Markieff Morris and other role players are in the trade as well. The idea is that the Rockets could try and flip Morris and the others to other teams for more second-round draft picks. That is how this deal could turn into a three or four-team deal.

So how does this lead to Boogie? Two ways.

First, the Los Angeles Lakers could agree to send another second-round pick in the trade as well as a wink and a nod deal with the Houston Rockets to release Cousins and allow him to sign on the veteran minimum. Of course, the Lakers would have to get word that Cousins would actually come back to LA, but if so, the Lakers can sweeten this package knowing that Cousins is coming.

Second, this opens up roster spots for the Lakers to get Cousins and any other potential bought-out players. By trading four players (three of which are in the rotation right now, Cacok is on a two-way deal), for one, the Lakers are opening up 2 roster spots in the process. One roster spot could go to Cousins, with one being saved for another signing.