Report: Lakers preparing summer trade package for All-Star guards

According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Cleveland Cavaliers have zero interest in parting with All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and have conveyed the same to the rest of the league. 

However, if the Cavs were to suffer another first-round exit after last year's flameout against the Knicks, they could potentially change their mindset on trading Mitchell.

One franchise that’s keeping a close watch on the Mitchell-Cavs situation is the Los Angeles Lakers. As is well documented, the Lakers currently have only one tradeable first-round pick -- either 2029 or 2030. However, all that changes on the night of the 2024 NBA Draft.

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the LeBron James-led team is looking to make a big splash this summer by packaging several first-rounders for either Mitchell or Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.

"The Lakers currently have only one future first-round pick available to trade, but starting on the day of the NBA draft, they'll have three: 2031, 2029 and either 2024 or 2025, depending on whether New Orleans chooses to use the 2024 pick it previously received from L.A. or defers it to the next draft," McMenamin wrote.

"The Lakers have discussed internally the possibility of packaging three picks along with players they already have on their books to pursue a bona fide star such as Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers or Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, team sources told ESPN."

While McMenamin didn’t highlight the players the Lakers could part with in a potential trade, at least three out of D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent would have to be included to make salaries work.

Of course, all those trade plans could be put to bed if James departs from the Lakers at the end of the season. The veteran forward holds a Player Option on the final year of his contract.