With clear issues around the roster, The Athletic’s John Hollinger broke down what he thinks your Los Angeles Lakers should do this offseason, highlighted by a major trade.
Citing shooting as the team’s biggest issue (and validly so, LA is 28th in three-point frequency), Hollinger suggested the team go out and get Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.
One of the premier players in the league, Young has been amongst the league leaders in points and assists over the past few seasons despite playing with subpar supporting casts and dealing with a coaching carousel in Atlanta. In 2021, he led the Hawks to an Eastern Conference Finals run in his playoff debut.
He’d fit optimally with the Lakers, ensuring that there’s a top-tier, long-term plan for the team once LeBron James eventually retires. A combination of Young and Anthony Davis is a match made in heaven, and for the time being, with James still on the roster, Young can orchestrate the offense and alleviate LeBron’s responsibility given the stage of his career.
Hollinger also points out that Young is taking the most catch-and-shoot three-pointers of his career, implying his improved ability to play off the ball, adding a layer of versatility to a potential pairing with LeBron James.
The asking price for Young is unknown but would presumably be at least three first-round picks along with Austin Reaves and possibly Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, or both. It’s not ideal to have to give up a chest of assets for any player, but Young is a special talent that would almost surely elevate the Lakers into the top echelon of title contenders.
