Time is running out for the Los Angeles Lakers. This team will clearly want to make a splash heading into the new season as they look to challenge for the title again in 2024-25.
While there are a couple of big names that have already been linked to a potential trade move to Hollywood, one All-Star point guard has now been proposed as the potential third star alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers, however, will need to give up a whole lot to make a deal happen.
Los Angeles Lakers Urged to Trade for Darius Garland
The star identified to be the final piece of the puzzle for the Lakers is Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to analyst Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, Garland would be an ideal fit alongside LeBron and AD as the Lakers form a new Big 3 to contend for another title.
Below are the details of the proposed three-team deal, which will also involve the Brooklyn Nets:
Cavaliers Receive: F Cam Johnson, G Austin Reaves, F Rui Hachimura
Lakers Receive: PG Darius Garland, G/F Caris LeVert
Nets Receive: PG D’Angelo Russell, SG Jalen Hood-Schifino, F/C Christian Wood, 2029 first-round pick via Lakers
Swartz explains why Garland would be a massive pick-up for LA:
“Garland is the ideal candidate to take over point guard duties.
“The 24-year-old has five seasons of experience under his belt and has averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 assists and 1.3 steals on 38.9 percent shooting from three over the past three years. He was named an All-Star in 2022, with James selecting him in the All-Star draft over Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler, Murray and others,” Swartz wrote.
Losing Austin Reaves will be a tough blow for the Lakers, and to a certain extent, the same can be said for D’Angelo Russell as well.
Then again, LA also gets an underrated piece in Caris LeVert here, who is someone who can slide into the starting lineup to form a new-look backcourt for the Lakers alongside Garland.
It’s a major risk for the Lakers, no doubt, but it could be the type of move they will need to pull off in order to make the splash the fans have been so desperately craving.
