Six Lakers trade ideas — and why they probably wouldn’t work

The Los Angeles Lakers can build momentum over the next three weeks. They can find the right rotations and the right balance, and they can win. They can get healthy. They can perform.

And if they don’t make a trade, a big chunk of their fans won’t be happy.

In a vacuum, trades are incredibly fun. They’re the mechanism that has landed the Lakers so many franchise-altering stars. They’re the way everything can change in a blink, how Anthony Davis can become Luka Dončić. But because trades are also the way Ivica Zubac can become Mike Muscala, trades don’t exist in a vacuum. They exist in an incredibly precarious moment for executives, when they’re all too aware of their current team’s shortcomings. They don’t know, though, how the cost of correcting a roster’s flaws will pan out in either the short or long term.

It’s why most executives move through trade season with caution; the only guaranteed way to not get pantsed in a deal, of course, is not to make one at all.

I’ve been talking to general managers, front office executives, scouts and agents about trades since this Lakers roster was finalized (a few of them will be nodding along as they read this). I haven’t, though, spoken to you, the fans, about what you want to see happen.

A few weeks ago, I asked users on X for the trades they’d like to see the Lakers make. Using the rules I’ve been able to discern from people both in and outside of the Lakers organization, I’ll give you my thoughts on your ideas — and more importantly, where I think the Lakers would stand on it.
First, the rules.

One, the proposed trade must be legal. The Lakers, by rule, could not trade Rui Hachimura and his salary for Kon Knueppel even if the Charlotte Hornets wanted to. Not how it works. And two, it’s got to make sense — and that means for both teams. No one wants to trade a dollar for 15 cents.

I picked six trades that I liked best, mostly shying away from three- and four-team deals just because the more complicated a trade is, the less likely it is to happen. I tried to pick deals that showed the most about what the Lakers might be thinking as they head toward the deadline, and as you’ll see, that’s why many NBA observers don’t expect a huge move from a team that clearly needs defensive and shooting upgrades.

Trade idea No. 1 

Lakers get: Herbert Jones, Jordan Hawkins

New Orleans Pelicans get: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, 2031 Lakers’ first-round pick, 2026 Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick

Thunder get: 2032 pick swap with Lakers

What do I think?
Let’s start by talking about Jones, a player who so obviously would help the Lakers that it makes sense that they’ve checked on his availability. Guess what? So have a bunch of other teams. And whether it’s posturing or genuine, the Pelicans have shown no interest in trading Jones for anything less than a Desmond Bane-level haul. I tend to think this isn’t posturing — New Orleans’ new front office signed Jones to his extension — and why would they want to limit any trade pool to a group of buyers handcuffed by aprons and draft pick limitations? That stuff only opens up more options for New Orleans in the summer (when the Lakers, say, could trade multiple draft picks for Jones if they really want him).

The Thunder would add an interesting wrinkle to this deal. Sources tell me that teams expect Oklahoma City to be looking for deals like this to get future value for some of their 2026 draft assets (they’ve got up to four picks in the first round).

Why won’t it happen?
New Orleans isn’t trading Jones, and Knecht doesn’t have trade value. This, at least compared to most trades featuring just the 2031 pick, is a little closer.

Trade idea No. 2

Lakers get: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, two second-round picks

Memphis Grizzlies get: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber

What do I think?
I’ve spoken with people around the league about a deal similar to this, with the Lakers sending out expiring money for Caldwell-Pope, who has a proven past as a postseason difference-maker. At this stage, he’s more solid than anything else, and because of the $21 million player option he has for next season, a team might grab an asset or two if it helps Memphis get off some cash. I like the general idea of a trade like this, with one big caveat: I’m not sure a second or two is worth eating into the cap space I’d preserved for the summer, when I’d have up to three first-round picks to acquire a player into that space.

Why won’t it happen?
Unless a deal like this yields a player the Lakers view as a multi-season fit, I don’t think they’d take on money beyond this year. And that stance makes their expiring contracts basically valueless as trade chips this season.

Trade idea No. 3

Lakers get: Patrick Williams, Ayo Dosunmu

Chicago Bulls get: Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent

What do I think?
An issue that comes up in many of my conversations is the Lakers’ future cap space. In a trade like this, that would be the primary issue. Williams looks like a 3-and-D wing, but he doesn’t play like one. He spends more time guarding bigs because of his lack of foot speed, and he shoots too infrequently to stretch defenses on the perimeter. He is also under contract for three more seasons. Dosunmu has some of the skills that would really help the Lakers, but as an unrestricted free agent, he’s going to be looking for a raise in the mid-level exception range. And while this proposal would have no draft capital going out, a lot of other potential deals for Dosunmu do. One thing to remember with trades for players entering free agency: Teams are hesitant to give up as much for players they can simply sign in the summer.

Why won’t it happen?
The Lakers would have to believe that their style of play would unlock Williams to take on his multi-year deal, and I can’t imagine they do. Also, I won’t believe the Bulls are trading Dosunmu until I see it. Chicago seems to really value him.

Trade idea No. 4

Lakers get: Saddiq Bey, Devin Carter and Keon Ellis

Pelicans get: Knecht, Doug McDermott, two future second-round picks

Sacramento Kings get: Kleber, Lakers 2031 first-round pick (top-10 protected)

What do I think?
These are the kinds of players the Lakers could be realistically targeting, minus Carter, who would be a buy-low candidate with defensive upside. Bey is on a good contract, and Ellis has several admirers around the league. Would you trust either of them to play big minutes as a primary defender in a playoff series?

Why won’t it happen?
This trade is the biggest issue the Lakers face before the Feb. 5 deadline. Potential trade partners want young players and picks in deals, and L.A.’s young players don’t have value. That leaves them with one first-round pick to dangle. And if they’re going to trade that pick, they cannot take back a collection of bench players who probably won’t get the team meaningfully closer to winning this year. Yeah, a trade like this would likely make the Lakers better. No, it probably wouldn’t be enough to convince the franchise to kneecap its ability to trade three firsts this summer.

Trade idea No. 5

Lakers get: Andrew Wiggins

Miami Heat get: Hachimura, Kleber, Knecht, Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick.

What do I think?
If we’re speaking in a technical sense, the Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick is probably their most valuable trade asset. However, trading that pick would lock the team’s ability to trade the 2031 pick now and the 2033 pick this summer. So, yeah, the 2032 pick probably isn’t going anywhere. With Wiggins, I don’t know if he’s really available or if he’s worth it at this price point. Again, would adding Wiggins make the Lakers so much better that they’d decide to ignore their plans?

Why won’t it happen?
I think the Lakers’ front office could convince itself that Wiggins is an athletic upgrade, and for what the team would lose in shooting, it would gain back in on-ball defense. But Wiggins has never been quite the defender people thought he’d be in the league.

Trade idea No. 6

Lakers get: Justin Champagnie

Washington Wizards get: Knecht, 2032 Lakers second-round pick

What do I think?
Finally, let’s get down and dirty on a tiny deal. Knecht, as we noted during the preseason, hasn’t established any real trade value, meaning the Lakers would functionally be punting on their former first-rounder for a role player who’s shooting less than 32 percent from 3 this season. I like Champagnie because I think he knows how to make positive plays, but he’s not the perimeter defender his brother, San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, is.

Why won’t it happen?
Maybe it could? I haven’t heard much about Champagnie from my sources other than he’s the kind of player people wonder about when they talk about winning on the margins. Maybe a hard-playing wing with size and a nose for rebounding nudges the Lakers in the right direction. But maybe a future second isn’t worth it to Washington to move off of Champagnie, who is on a great contract.