After missing out on the short-lived Kyrie Irving trade sweepstakes over the weekend (much to the disappointment of a very desperate-sounding LeBron James, apparently), is there a chance the Los Angeles Lakers turn their attention to the Toronto Raptors' Gary Trent Jr.?
Sources inform Michael Grange of Sportsnet that the shooting guard could likely be had for a protected first-round pick, or two high second-rounders. What the level of those protections would be is not clarified, but one would assume at least a top-10 protection, if not a full lottery protection (top-14).
The 24-year-old is a reliable floor spacer for Toronto and remains a solid defender. He's also a Klutch Sports client, like most of the Lakers roster, and as we have seen over the years, Rich Paul does love aligning his better clients with his pal and frequent business partner LeBron James.
Grange notes that the Raptors are at least open to conversations about trading Trent, but cautions that the team is confident it can re-sign him in free agency when the time comes, and thus isn't feeling like there's a ticking clock on his engagement with the club. Trent is earning $17.3 million this season, and could hit the open market this summer if he decides not to pick up his $18.6 million option for the 2023-24 season.
To match money beyond sending Toronto draft picks, the Lakers could ship out the expiring $13 million contract of veteran guard Patrick Beverley, along with a player on a veteran's minimum deal (preferably Damian Jones). Per ESPN's trade machine, that $15.3 million in combined money would get close enough for Los Angeles to absorb Trent's salary.
Trent would instantly become L.A.'s third-best player, and one of the few Lakers with legitimate above-average two-way ability (which sort of is an indictment of Rob Pelinka's roster building).
Would the Lakers try to extend Trent immediately after trading for him? Giving up what could be a highly valuable draft pick for a rental who could walk in free agency (as the Mavericks just did for Kyrie Irving) is incredibly risky.
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