Breaking News: Lakers Finally Agree Blockbuster Trade For Steph Curry

During the Olympics, LeBron James and Stephen Curry demonstrated to the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors that they still had enough in the tank to lead a team to victory. However, as currently structured, the Lakers and Warriors are not considered title contenders.

After being eliminated in the first round last year, the Lakers have done nothing but draft Dalton Knecht and Bronny James this offseason. The Warriors made changes, but it remains to be seen whether they will be a better team than they were last season, when they were eliminated in the Play-In game.

The Lakers might profit from acquiring a player of Curry’s quality, since it would provide them with at least one more season to compete for a championship. Matt Levine of Sports Illustrated put together a deal that would bring Curry to the Lakers.

Lakers get: Curry, Kevon Looney

Warriors get: Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick swap

“On August 23, Levine noted that Los Angeles is acquiring Curry to join forces with James and Anthony Davis for the next few seasons. Once James retires, Curry might continue playing alongside Davis until he too decides to retire. Additionally, the Lakers would take on Looney’s contract to assist the Warriors with their salary cap issues. Although Looney’s inclusion is more of a secondary factor to finalize the deal, he brings valuable experience and size to the Lakers.

For the Warriors, this trade would be a significant move as they prepare for a future without Curry. Bringing in an expiring contract like Russell’s could help with salary cap flexibility or be used as a trade asset at the deadline. Reaves would offer a promising guard on a favorable contract, Vanderbilt would add rebounding and defensive capabilities, and Hachimura, having greatly improved his skills recently, could contribute valuable size to the roster.”

 

 

 

While trading for Stephen Curry might seem logical, it could be risky for the Los Angeles Lakers. Moving all their assets for a 36-year-old player could potentially harm their long-term prospects even further.

Robert Marvi of USA Today argues that such a trade could be a poor decision. He points out that Curry, at 36, might not have many elite years left in his career, citing that he had some less impressive stretches last season. Marvi suggests that Curry might already be entering the decline phase of his career. Moreover, if both LeBron James and Curry were to decline or retire, the Lakers would lack the draft picks needed to rebuild their team, either by using them directly or trading for other productive players.

The Lakers face a challenge with their draft capital, having only two tradeable first-round picks, which makes acquiring a star player in the future difficult.

On the other hand, Curry would fit well with the Lakers. Last season, they attempted the fewest three-pointers per game, and Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers, would significantly address this issue. His presence could also reduce the workload on James and allow him to focus more on other aspects of his game. In the 2023-24 season, Curry averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. His ability to create opportunities for others would benefit both James and Anthony Davis, giving them more open shots.