We are under two weeks before the NBA trade deadline and teams are starting to position themselves to make a splash. This year, we could see many quality role players moved as organizations try to give themselves a better chance to win in the playoffs.
One team that is expected to be active ahead of the deadline is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Per usual, the Lakers are being mentioned in all sorts of trade talk and we could see Los Angeles pull the trigger on a massive deal. In this new trade scenario by Doug McCain of The Big Lead, the Lakers make what McCain calls a ‘perfect’ deadline move.
The deal would be between the Lakers and Utah Jazz, landing two players in Los Angeles. “In a perfect world, the Lakers get Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler.
The Jazz get Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Cam Reddish, the 2029 first-round pick, and the 2031 first-round pick.” Both Sexton and Kessler have been heavily talked about in NBA circles and the Lakers could make a big addition with this deal.
Giving up both first-round draft picks would be a tough sell but the Lakers are all about championships.
This deal would help the team get closer to being truly competitive this season, bringing in two players who could change the trajectory of the season. Sexton would give the Lakers another ball-handler, something the team has been missing since they traded away guard D’Angelo Russell.
On the season, Sexton has averaged 18.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.
But his 3-point shooting has taken a jump as the guard is shooting 41.3 percent from deep, currently a career-high for the former lottery pick. Kessler would be the big grab here for Los Angeles and why they would give up both picks.
The Lakers have been trying to land Kessler from the Jazz for some time now but Utah holds him in high regard.
Adding Kessler to the mix would allow Anthony Davis to move back to the forward position, a place he is much more comfortable playing.
Davis has recently called for the Lakers to make a deal to land a center and Kessler could be the perfect fit.
For the year, he has averaged 11.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.
His defensive ability alone could make this trade worth it for the Lakers.
