While the Los Angeles Lakers weren’t popular NBA title favorites, most individuals were confident the Luka Doncic and LeBron James-led squad would at least appear in the Western Conference semifinals.
However, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Lakers in five games, causing Los Angeles’ offseason to commence prematurely.
The Lakers could send their valuable 26-year-old superstar to the San Antonio Spurs in a move that would shut down the internet.
“The San Antonio Spurs finished 13th in the Western Conference standings this season, but they should be contenders for years to come,” Clutch Points’ Bailey Bassett wrote Thursday.
“Victor Wembanyama has lived up to the hype and can be viewed as one of the best players in the NBA going forward. Wembanyama led the league in blocks despite being ruled out for the season after the All-Star break due to blood clotting.”
“Upon his return, fans will get to see what could be an electric duo, as the Spurs traded for De'Aaron Fox ahead of the trade deadline. The Spurs have an impressive core that is rounded out by Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Rookie of the Year winner Stephon Castle.”
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“The money adds up for the Spurs to make a trade for Luka Doncic involving Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley, and a bunch of draft picks, but the Lakers would scoff at that proposal. Instead, they'd likely require one of Vassell or Castle to be involved in this deal.”
For clarity, the Lakers would send Doncic to the Spurs for Vassell, Johnson, Branham, Wesley, two 2025 first-round picks, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick in Bassett’s summer trade proposal.
The Lakers are firmly in win-now mode. The organization should find assets on the trade market to complement Doncic and James in Los Angeles.
Parting with Doncic after half a season would make their groundbreaking Anthony Davis and Doncic trade a complete failure.
Without Davis and Doncic on the roster heading into the 2025-26 season, it wouldn’t be possible to keep James’ title window open in Los Angeles.
Vassell, Johnson, Branham, and Wesley are respectable assets, but they wouldn’t help put Los Angeles at ease in Bassett’s hypothetical trade.
Doncic, who averaged 30.2 points in the postseason this year, is a contributor the Lakers should cherish in free agency and beyond.
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