The NBA offseason is heating up, and the Los Angeles Lakers are making moves that could reshape their roster ahead of the new season. The team has recently lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets, but with that departure comes the opportunity to utilize the full mid-level exception. They’ve made a splash by signing two key players, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, as they look to bolster their lineup.
While these transactions are generating buzz, it’s important to note that they won’t become official until the start of the new league year on July 6. In the meantime, general managers across the league are getting creative, trying to build the strongest possible rosters. This often involves sign-and-trades or multi-team deals that can add layers of complexity to the typical offseason moves.
One fascinating development comes from reports suggesting that the Lakers could be involved in an ambitious trade surrounding Kevin Durant, which may be expanded into a staggering seven-team deal. According to NBA insider Fred Katz, the Rockets and the Phoenix Suns are in the midst of negotiations that could set a league record for the most teams involved in a single trade. The Lakers are among several teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves, that may find themselves part of this significant transaction.
While there are no immediate conclusions and details are still being ironed out, the mere idea of a seven-team trade is a thrilling concept for any basketball enthusiast. Yet, it’s worth noting that as of now, many of the players discussed in these negotiations are familiar names who have already been part of prior trade talks. For instance, Clint Capela, as part of a sign-and-trade, would be moving to the Rockets, while Durant would head to Houston in a deal involving other reported assets like Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green going to Phoenix.
In this unfolding scenario, the Lakers’ role remains somewhat ambiguous but likely won’t be major. They could potentially turn their recent Finney-Smith move into a sign-and-trade to create a trade exception. Alternatively, they might aim to acquire a player like Nick Richards from the Suns, a center who has appeared to be expendable after the Suns drafted Khaman Maluach and made a trade for Mark Williams.
There’s also the possibility that the Lakers’ previous draft trade involving Adou Thiero with the Timberwolves could connect them to this potential blockbuster, given their status as one of the other collaborating teams.
If Los Angeles does manage to land Richards, it wouldn’t be surprising considering their prior interest in him. Acquiring him would give the Lakers a dynamic center duo alongside Ayton, although any potential acquisition remains speculative at this point.
As the landscape of the NBA continues to shift, keeping an eye on the Lakers’ maneuvers will be crucial. With their recent signings and the potential for a major trade, they seem intent on building a roster capable of making a deep playoff run. The coming weeks promise to be fascinating as the details unfold and the new league year approaches.
