![\"JJ](\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2177640794-e1733771582349.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780\")
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Despite an encouraging start to the new season, the Los Angeles Lakers are a thread above .500 after 24 games. JJ Redick\u2019s team are 13-11 and have struggled to find any consistency over the opening months.<\/p>\n
In recent years, the Lakers have looked toward the trade market when things aren\u2019t going their way. Rob Pelinka\u2019s flurry of moves at the 2023 trade deadline helped the franchise make the Western Conference Finals. The Denver Nuggets ultimately swept them. Still, if the franchise is serious about giving LeBron James another shot at a championship, Pelinka may need to get creative.<\/p>\n
In a recent article for \u2018The Wrightway Sports Network,\u2019 Arkay suggested the Lakers should look at Jordan Poole as a potential high-upside addition. The sharpshooting guard won a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2022.<\/p>\n
Poole is currently enjoying a bounce-back season after struggling during his first year with the Washington Wizards. Poole is averaging 20.4 points, 5 assists and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 46.7% from 2-point range and 40.8% from deep.<\/p>\n
Arkay\u2019s trade proposal looks like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n Lakers Receive: Jordan Poole<\/strong><\/p>\n Wizards Receive: D\u2019Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent and a 2025 second-round draft pick.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir performance depends heavily on their shooters\u2014when they\u2019re on fire, the offense flows, but when they\u2019re cold, the team struggles to score,\u201d Arkway reasoned. \u201cTo address this inconsistency, the Lakers need more creative, on-ball offensive players\u2026Poole, arguably the best available option without sacrificing long-term assets, could fill that role\u2026For Washington, offloading his $100+ million deal without attaching draft picks would be a significant win, offering them financial flexibility.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Poole is in the second year of his four-year $128 million deal. His playmaking and off-the-dribble scoring would be huge for Redick\u2019s team.<\/p>\n Poole Would Fit a Lakers Rebuild<\/strong><\/p>\n Adding Poole would instantly improve the Lakers\u2019 half-court offense.<\/p>\n More importantly, at 25 years old, he could be an ideal addition to help usher in the next generation of talent.<\/p>\n LeBron and Anthony Davis are both getting older and sooner or later, the front office must accept its time to rebuild the team. In Poole, Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht, Redick would have an exciting young core.<\/p>\n On Friday, Dec. 6, LeBron admitted to reporters that his time in the league is running out. His comments came after the Lakers loss to the Atlanta Hawks.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d LeBron told Spectrum SportsNet. \u201cI just go out there and just play the game the right way. Compete at a high level and leave it all out on the floor every time I go out there. My time is very limited on how long I\u2019ll play. I\u2019m just happy to still be able to play the game that I love.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n If LeBron\u2019s time in the league is truly drawing to a close, adding young and experienced talent such as Poole becomes even more important moving forward.<\/p>\n Anthony Davis May Leave Lakers After LeBron<\/strong><\/p>\n According to The Athletic\u2019s Jovan Buha, who was speaking during a recent YouTube video, there\u2019s a legitimate chance Davis could look to end his tenure with the Lakers once LeBron calls time on his career.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it\u2019s inconceivable that he asks out. But, I think he\u2019s been pretty happy in L.A., and I think he\u2019s aware of LeBron\u2019s plans,\u201d Buha said. \u201cI also think if he wants out, I think the Lakers should just honor that. Because, it\u2019s like at that point, if LeBron retires maybe it is best to rebuild and just keep your picks. And then, maybe at that point, they have kept their picks and just kind of punted on this season and next season. But I think if I had to lean one way, I\u2019d probably lean toward AD staying, but I would not be surprised if he asked out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n If the front office believes Davis is a potential flight risk, they shouldn\u2019t be afraid of spending some trade assets on players like Poole. Davis would land the team a haul if he asked out of the franchise. That way, the front office can re-tool around it\u2019s younger core and give Redick an opportunity to build a team capable of playing his brand of basketball.<\/p>\n However, Davis and LeBron\u2019s situations are problems for another time. Right now, the Lakers need an offensive boost. Poole could provide that and some high upside. If the Wizards are open to a deal, Los Angeles should at least sit down at the negotiating table and see what a potential price would be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Despite an encouraging start to the new season, the Los Angeles Lakers are a thread above .500 after 24 games. JJ Redick\u2019s team are 13-11 and have… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16104,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n