Bruce Brown, Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine, Dorian Finney-Smith, and several others have headlined the 2024 iteration of Lakers trade targets, with a common return package to these teams involving rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2029 first-round pick, amidst possibly more dependent on what LA is getting back.
Hood-Schifino has struggled in the NBA thus far, but he's looked good in the G-League and has upside as a player.
The Indiana University product was the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NBA draft (right ahead of Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Brandin Podziemski). His 6-foot-6 frame combined with his playmaking and defensive upside has fostered the notion that he has serious long-term potential.
Here's what Jovan Buha of The Athletic wrote in a recent piece about Hood-Schifino:
"Rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino’s stock has dipped since the Lakers selected him with the No. 17 pick in the 2023 draft, but there’s still a mystery-box element to his future, as with any first-round pick barely halfway through his rookie season."
"Depending on one’s view of Hood-Schifino, acquiring him could be similar to receiving a first-round pick, given he’s only halfway into his rookie season."
Buha's concession that Jalen's value has dropped suggests that his poor NBA performances have left a mark, but his upside remains the main takeaway when it comes to what a team is receiving with him in a return package.
As he presumably continues to play well in the G-League, expect his value to continue to rise as trade talks heat up.
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