The Los Angeles Lakers are fresh off winning their 17th championship in franchise history. Unfortunately, due to the shortness of the offseason this year, team general manager Rob Pelinka is immediately being tasked with upgrading the roster in preparation of a title defense.
One notable area of weakness the Lakers must address in the offseason is point guard. Rajon Rondo is opting out of his deal and may end up with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Beyond that, it’s currently slim pickings at the position. There has been some loose chatter regarding Derrick Rose and Chris Paul being added recently, but nothing definitive.
This past week, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report put forth an intriguing idea: a trade between the Toronto Raptors and Lakers that would net the latter team Kyle Lowry.
In the proposed deal, LA would send Avery Bradley, Alex Caruso, Danny Green, whoever they take with the No. 28 pick, and a 2022 first-round pick swap in return for the 34-year-old guard.
This past year Lowry averaged 19.4 points and 7.5 assists per outing, while shooting 42 percent from the field, 80 percent from the free throw line and 35 percent from behind the arc.
“Lowry is an ideal fit beside LeBron and Anthony Davis, someone who can stroke spot-up threes and set screens but also pilot the offense on his own,” Favale noted.
Actions have consequences. https://t.co/MMPsr3lA67
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 13, 2020
“That he comes off the books in 2021 is similarly convenient. LeBron has a player option for 2021-22, and though the Lakers won’t be max-contract-ready without renouncing both, it does open the door for scenarios in which they re-sign for less to facilitate the arrival of someone else.”
All that being said – it is difficult to see a scenario where the Raptors ultimately agree to this move. Realistically, they came within one game of the Eastern Conference Finals, so why blow everything up when you don’t have to?
Beyond that, Lowry is an absolute legend for the franchise – shipping him off in favor of a rebuild (unless he co-signs the move) reeks of poor taste.
Steph forgot he was mic’d. https://t.co/aHQ26YVM1b
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 13, 2020
“Lowry’s name only enters the equation if the Raptors pivot into a gap year and don’t think they need him to help recruit Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021,” Favale noted.
“That’s not an impossible scenario. Three of Toronto’s best players are hitting the open market—Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet—and team president Masai Ujiri might be keener on a wholesale shakeup if Giannis signs a supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.”
All things considered, it’s still really hard to see Toronto agreeing to make this trade.
But if they do, the Lakers should do it in a heartbeat.
Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Cryptic Message About Bucks Future
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
