3 early Lakers trade targets in 2024 NBA offseason

Kyrie Irving has constantly been in the Lakers trade rumors during the LeBron James era. Many believed at one point that Irving would go to Los Angeles instead of the Dallas Mavericks when he wanted out of the Brooklyn Nets. Unfortunately, that never happened but fans are still hopeful that this trade would come to fruition.

Uncle Drew should be the Purple and Gold’s priority out of all the trade targets. Irving and James already have championship experience together from their days with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former duo’s chemistry combined with LeBron’s tandem with Anthony Davis could put the league in shambles.

All three players would gel together given their styles of play. Kyrie can efficiently feed AD inside similarly to how Bron does it.  Irving and James are already a proven duo, and so is James with Davis. Kai is also a versatile player who adjusts to his team’s needs. Plus, if one of them heads back to the bench, the Lakers don’t have to worry about one star taking care of business by himself.

Trae Young rumors turned into reality

At this point, the Lakers need a true point guard. Los Angeles currently has D’Angelo Russell running the point. While Russell managed to deliver on the task asked of him, it isn’t his natural playing style. D-Lo is more offensive-oriented and plays efficiently when creating his own shots. Russell’s style of play may have worked for a while, but it’s clear that Los Angeles needs a change of pace.

Trading for Trae Young might be something to look into. Young is already rumored to be headed to Los Angeles this summer. Why not make those rumors a reality?

Similar to D-Lo, Ice Trae is a point guard who’s heavy on the scoring aspect of the game. However, what makes both players different is their ability to create opportunities for the team. Looking at Russell’s stats this season, he averaged 18.0 points and 6.3 assists. Meanwhile, Young averaged significantly higher numbers with 25.7 points and 10.8 assists per game.

Looking at the numbers alone, it’s clear that Trae is a more versatile guard who could provide Davis and James with the needed help. James no longer has to run the point as often as he did and can focus on creating shots. Young can efficiently feed either AD or Bron while knocking down some shots of his own.

Your friendly neighborhood Spida Donovan Mitchell to the rescue

If the Lakers are looking for more firepower, Donovan Mitchell might be the right pick for them. Mitchell recently hinted that he isn’t committing to any contract extensions with the Cavaliers. It could be a sign that he’s open to the idea of testing out playing for other teams.

If that were the case, Los Angeles should aim to land a deal with Cleveland to secure Mitchell. Spida is one of the league’s best scorers today. What the Lakers currently lack in their roster is a consistent shooter. While Davis and James are always there to take over, they still need someone who can back them up on the offensive load.

The Purple and Gold are also getting their money’s worth trading for Mitchell given his secondary ability to distribute the ball. Donovan isn’t a solid playmaker, but he knows how to efficiently share the rock when needed.

It will now all depend on the Lakers if they can pull off these trade scenarios.