Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka didn’t make any trades ahead of the deadline, but his recent inactivity on doesn’t mean there couldn’t be a trade in the relatively near future.
In fact, there’s still potential for something major to go down in the offseason, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
“The Lakers plan to use the three picks that they will have available this summer … to pursue a star via trade,” Buha wrote recently. “Three potential targets are Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young and Kyrie Irving, according to team and league sources.”
The Lakers and Irving have long flirted with the idea of joining forces, with multiple reports previously suggesting Irving was interested in reuniting with LeBron James after winning a championship together in Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell, on the other hand, has long been rumoured to want out of Cleveland. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons even said Mitchell eventually leaving the Cavaliers was the “worst kept secret in the NBA”.
However, Cleveland has been on an incredibly hot streak lately, having won 17 of their last 18 games. This run of form figures to increase the Cavs’ chances of keeping Mitchell, although his future is still bound to hinge on how the team performs in the playoffs.
Then when it comes to Trae Young, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported last month that the Lakers had discussed packaging their assets for the Hawks star.
This assumes Atlanta would be willing to part with their best player, who is under contract until 2026-27.
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