The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves will face off in the first round of the 2025 postseason.
If Los Angeles defeats the Anthony-led Timberwolves but stumbles the rest of the way, Rob Pelinka may pick up the phone in free agency and contact numerous high-level trade targets.
A Denver Nuggets superstar point guard and NBA champion may land with the franchise during the offseason.
"(Luka) Doncic reached the 2022 Western Conference Finals and 2024 NBA Finals sharing a backcourt with an All-Star guard, and that formula may be emulated in Los Angeles,” Lake Show Life’s Maxwell Ogden wrote Monday.
"In that scenario, if (Austin) Reaves struggles in the playoffs and the Nuggets make (Jamal) Murray available again, it stands to reason that the Lakers could kick the tires on a potential move for one of the most prolific postseason scorers in the NBA.”
"Murray, who played a co-starring role when Denver won the championship in 2022-23, boasts a career postseason average of 24.2 points per game. He's No. 5 in NBA history in career 50-point games during the playoffs and No. 25 in career 40-point games in that same setting.”
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
"It's admittedly a long shot, but the Lakers could have an opportunity to pair a title-winning guard with Doncic if the Nuggets lose early in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.”
Murray and the Nuggets should be ecstatic about the upcoming opportunity to make a deeper postseason run this year. A second-round exit won’t fly in 2025 after the organization made a statement on Apr. 8 by parting with head coach Michael Malone.
Although Murray performed above average during last year’s playoffs, he must play efficient basketball alongside Nikola Jokic against the Los Angeles Clippers and beyond to help Denver succeed.
Murray, a pure jump shooter and elite shot creator, averaged 20.6 points and 5.6 assists per game, shooting 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from three in the playoffs a season ago.
An anemic postseason performance could lead to a blockbuster summer trade involving Murray, the Nuggets, and the Lakers.
Like Murray, Reaves must replicate his regular-season success in the playoffs to avoid being involved in offseason trade rumors.
Murray, who reportedly could have been traded last offseason, unquestionably boasts an advantage over Reaves in talent and productivity.
Still, both studs have plenty of work to do before free agency begins.
More NBA: Lakers may ditch Austin Reaves for $220 million four-time All-Star guard in free agency