Ever since the midseason trades that salvaged their year, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a very good team. But very good simply wasn’t good enough: They were swept in the Western Conference finals by the Denver Nuggets.
Very good also isn’t good enough for a franchise that has won 17 NBA championships and measures success by whether it wins it all at the end of a season.
Aside from a home-run move such as acquiring Kyrie Irving, perhaps their biggest need is a 3-and-D wing who can contain star guards, such as Denver’s Jamal Murray, while consistently hitting from the outside on the other end.
The Toronto Raptors’ Gary Trent Jr. seems to fit that description, and Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale suggested he could be an ambitious target for L.A. this summer.
Via Bleacher Report:
“There are levels to how aggressive the Los Angeles Lakers can get in free agency. … Targeting a higher-end shooter who can disrupt on defense, even if he over-gambles, via sign-and-trade is aggressive enough. The Lakers should have the wiggle room to fit Hachimura, Reaves and Gary Trent Jr. under the hard cap.”
Could Trent be the final piece for the Purple and Gold?