The Los Angeles Lakers are 14-12 for the season and are firmly in the Play-In Tournament mix. Their inconsistent play shows that they are not too different of a team from last season and are nowhere near a championship contender despite the coaching change.
At this point, Lakers fans are not too concerned about the on-court results. They know that this team isn’t ready to compete at the highest level and are waiting for trades to help them get there. Unfortunately, GM Rob Pelinka doesn’t seem too interested in making moves. While their Western Conference rivals are getting stronger, the Lakers are standing pat, even if the ideal move is staring right in their face.
The Golden State Warriors traded for former Lakers guard Dennis Schröder in exchange for De’Anthony Melton, who is out for the season, Reece Beekman, and three second-round picks. For that asking price, the Lakers should have gotten involved.
Lakers Should Have Traded for Dennis Schröder
Schröder is on an expiring contract worth $13 million for this season. He was easily acquirable by giving up Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt plus the multiple second-round picks like the Warriors gave up.
It’s even more frustrating considering the fact that this organization is very familiar with what the 31-year-old veteran can do. Schröder spent the 2022-23 season in Los Angeles and was a huge part of the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference Finals. He can defend multiple positions and is very good at guarding the point of attack. Offensively, he is one of the best drivers of his position. He adds inside-the-arc scoring, passing, and above-average shooting, all things the Lakers desperately need.
Schröder is having one of the best seasons of his career. He was the best player on the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 rebounds for the season. The Warriors knew that the rebuilding Nets wanted to start losing as soon as possible to improve their draft lottery odds, so they acted fast to trade for Schröder.
If the Lakers had a competent front office, they could have been the ones doing so. As long as Pelinka is there, that may be a pipe dream.
