The Charlotte Hornets have started to turn a bit of a corner of late. Despite an untimely injury to star rookie guard Kon Knueppel, the team has a won their last few games, starting to show some serious growth.
Amidst the improving Charlotte team, lies a number of veteran players who will likely be on the move sometime before the Feb 5 trade deadline.
Among them is Collin Sexton, who is on an expiring $19 million deal that he signed after being traded to the Utah Jazz.
One team that has a need in their backcourt is the Los Angeles Lakers. The team is hoping to compete for a title as LeBron James winds his legendary career down. They would benefit tremendously fron what the guard can bring in.
Let’s look at a hypothetical deal that would land the Alabama product in LA.
Lakers Package to Acquire Collin Sexton from Hornets
Bringing Collin Sexton in is extremely realistic for the Lakers. The team will be without Austin Reaves for at least the next month, leaving them very short-handed in the backcourt.
While he’s down, there is no clear path to properly replacing him. Scoring nearly 30 a night, he leaves a big void in his absence. A simple package of Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, and a 2032 2nd-round pick could be enough for LA to do business.
Sexton could help fill the scoring void right away. Let’s not forget the time he nearly led his Alabama team to a win while playing 3-on-5.
While neither of those players would help Charlotte now, it clears their books a bit while freeing up future salary. The future pick could also be used to sweeten any deals involving Grant Williams and Josh Green, should they opt to also move them.
Vincent could provide mentorship for LaMelo Ball. Kleber may be waived or bought out, so that he could join another team.
Funnily enough, these teams tried to do business a season ago. Mark Williams was supposed to become a Laker at last year’s deadline, with Dalton Knecht heading to Charlotte. The deal was cancelled a bit after, citing a failed physical by Williams as the primary reason.
LA would be acquiring the sixth man they have been in dire need of for the past few seasons. Sexton, who was asked to pitch LeBron James staying in Cleveland after being selected, would team up with the legend.
Projecting Lakers Potential Expectations with Sexton
Collin Sexton would come in and provide the scoring boost LA has needed. However much they have struggled on the defensive end, Young Bull would provide the energy the team has been missing.
This is a team centered around the scoring ability of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Both have had their share of injuries, but have dominated when on the floor. Whether together, or separately, they have been making defenses pay.
This would also help to clear another roster spot for LAL, to either convert one of their two-way players, or add a big man on the buyout market. DeAndre Ayton has been solid as the starter, but this is a squad that is spread very thin at the position after that.
Bringing Sexton in not only adds more scoring, but provides a little more injury insurance if one of LA’s two stars has to miss any time.
They could re-sign their potential acquisition here in the offseason if they so choose, keeping him with the Lakers for the long term.
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