The Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Toronto Raptors in a game with special significance for Lakers fans. With the Raptors potentially heading towards a major sell-off after trading OG Anunoby, the Lakers might have their eyes on potential acquisitions.
Pascal Siakam stands as the primary trade asset for the Toronto Raptors this season, and it would come as a surprise if he remains with the team past the trade deadline. Siakam’s contract is expiring, and it appears unlikely that he intends to commit long-term to Toronto. The Raptors should heed the lesson from losing Fred VanVleet and ensure they don’t let another star player leave without getting value in return.
While Siakam might be beyond the Lakers’ financial reach, they can still use the Siakam trade rumors to their advantage. Rather than pursuing players like Gary Trent Jr through trade, the Lakers could capitalize on a potential Raptors’ fire sale by involving themselves as a third team in a Siakam trade.
Even if acquiring Siakam directly might be a stretch for the Lakers, they could potentially acquire another player that the Raptors are looking to offload. This scenario offers numerous opportunities for the Lakers, including the chance to pursue a player who has been connected to the team in trade talks for quite some time.
Lakers could theoretically trade for Buddy Hield via Pascal Siakam
Buddy Hield is once again available for trade, and the Indiana Pacers are prominently discussed in Siakam trade talks. Hield’s salary would likely need to be part of any deal involving Siakam.
However, Toronto isn’t necessarily in dire need of Hield, considering his expiring contract. They could absorb him for salary purposes but might also seek to trade him to another team for additional assets. This situation presents an opportunity for the Lakers to get involved.
As the likelihood of a D’Angelo Russell trade increases, he becomes a plausible player the Lakers could involve in this potential deal. But what would the structure of this trade entail? In the subsequent sections, we’ll delve into the trade specifics and evaluate each party’s performance through grades.
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