![\"Blockbuster](\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2570310\/brooklyn-nets-cameron-johnson-giannis-antetokounmpo.jpg?w=1200&f=eb3805a2a396dbc3d7f0d68e16568fcc\")
<\/p>\nAt 22-18, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves firmly ensconced in the middle tier of the Western Conference pack – they’re currently the No. 6 seed, although that could change depending on the result of their Tuesday clash against the 6-35 Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Los Angeles has already made a big move this season after sitting out the best several transactional deadlines for making trades.<\/p>\n
Last month, the Lakers ditched the expiring contract of point guard D’Angelo Russell, second-year forward Maxwell Lewis, and three future second round draft picks, sending them to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for 3-and-D small forward Dorian Finney-Smith and microwave scoring guard Shake Milton.<\/p>\n
But the club could still use another dynamic scorer and big wing defender to paper over the defensive issues of 20-time All-Star forward LeBron James, who at 40 is one of the league’s best players.<\/p>\n
Lakers Could Land $68 Million Guard Parting with Multiple Rotation Pieces A new trade proposal from Ricardo Sandoval of Sports Illustrated would see the Lakers making another trade with the Nets.<\/p>\n
In this hypothetical, Los Angeles would offload a talented young starter, some future draft optionality, and additional contracts in exchange for a very talented combo forward and an intriguing young big man.<\/p>\n
Lakers Get:<\/strong> Forward Cameron Johnson, center Day’Ron Sharpe Nets Get: Forward Rui Hachimura, point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, point guard Gabe Vincent, a 2029 first round draft pick, a 2030 first round draft swap, a 2025 second round draft pick<\/p>\n Lakers Could Land $45 Million Star Guard Ahead of Trade Deadline “With this hypothetical trade, the Lakers get an elite 3-and-D wing who can score for himself and play solid defense,” Sandoval writes. “Johnson is the type of player who fits perfectly next to the Lakers’ superstars.<\/p>\n ” Johnson would represent an upgrade over Hachimura, yes, while Vincent is a solid defender but so limited on offense that his $11 million annual salary has become an eyesore.<\/p>\n Hood-Schifino, a former first round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft whose third-year team option was declined by Los Angeles at the start of the season, is clearly not a part of the Lakers’ future plans.<\/p>\n But the real question surrounding a Johnson deal, essentially, boils down to this: is the juice worth the squeeze?<\/p>\n The 6-foot-8 UNC product is averaging a career-best 19.5 points on .500\/.426\/.897 shooting splits, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 0.8 steals a night.<\/p>\n He’d give the club major shooting and scoring help, and would also significantly bolster L.A. defensively on the wing and in the frontcourt.<\/p>\n Should the Lakers look to offload some major future equity in an effort to improve their chances at playoff glory, with superstars James and Anthony Davis clearly aging?<\/p>\n Would Johnson give L.A. enough to beat the best teams in the Western Conference, specifically the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder? Regardless, Los Angeles brass may owe its two best players a better chance to win right now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At 22-18, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves firmly ensconced in the middle tier of the Western Conference pack – they’re currently the No. 6 seed, although… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27954,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n