The Los Angeles Lakers plugged a lot of roster holes this offseason, shoring up their perimeter, rim defense and rebounding, through the additions of Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia. However, three-point shooting remains a concern for JJ Redick’s team, which ranked 14th in three-point percentage (36.4%) and 15th in three-pointers made (13.3) last season.
One player who could help the Lakers in that department is Grayson Allen, a veteran sharpshooter who has made 2.1 threes per game in his seven-year career at an elite clip of 41.4%. He has been so deadly from long range that he made 205 threes at 46% in 2023-24, leading the league in efficiency among volume shooters. Fadeaway World urged the Rob Pelinka-led front office to try to nab Allen from the Phoenix Suns.
The proposed trade, which can be described as a bargain deal for the Lakers, would see the team part with two expiring contracts and a future second-round pick.
Lakers would receive: Grayson Allen
Suns would receive: Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, 2032 second-round pick
How the Lakers Benefit
“Considering the departure of a key rotation player like Dorian Finney-Smith in the offseason, the Purple and Gold need to reinforce their wing depth. In this regard, acquiring a player like Grayson Allen could prove to be quite significant.
“Allen has carved out an impressive career for himself as a 3-and-D specialist in the NBA. Although he carries a reputation as a “dirty” player, he still possesses the necessary skills to be a key contributor on any team he is a part of.”
Fadeaway World added that the expiring deals of Vincent and Kleber would be perfect for a Suns team looking to hit the reset button following the Kevin Durant experiment.
Grayson Allen, JJ Redick Share Bond
“Given the approach the Phoenix Suns have had toward the offseason, it is clear that the team is looking to clear cap space for the future and build its draft reserves back up. In this regard, a trade involving Grayson Allen could be considered worthwhile.
“Aside from their potential contributions to the team, the two veterans also have upside due to their contract situation. With a combined value of $22.5 million in expiring contracts coming off the books next summer, Phoenix could look at restructuring its rebuild around this additional cap space.”
Another reason for the Lakers to explore the deal would be the similarities between head coach JJ Redick and Allen, both of whom were notorious for being villains during their time at Duke. In fact, they shared a conversation on the subject when Allen made an appearance on Redick’s “Old Man & The Three” podcast in Sept. 2020.
Redick will remain the Lakers’ head coach for a long time. After signing a four-year deal in 2024, the Duke alum agreed to a contract extension this offseason.
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