The Los Angeles Lakers have had a strong start to the season, considering they’ve been without LeBron James, but the team’s 121-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder shows that they still have work to do if they hope to compete for a championship this season.
It’s hard to fully judge this roster until James is back, but the Thunder are going to be very hard for any team to beat. However, the Lakers have been able to swing some pretty big trades at the deadline the last couple of seasons.
If general manager Rob Pelinka is hoping for another trade deadline deal, a big man would be a really smart addition. Erik Beatson of Bleacher Report believes that Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis is a great fit.
“Sabonis is a more aware player than Ayton and could fill the gaps that the latter does not, while allowing the Lakers to run two bigs if and when the situation presents itself,” Beaston wrote. “The Gonzaga product is scoring four points fewer than he did a season ago and is not without his flaws, including rim protection. Still, he is a significant enough upgrade and potential difference-maker that Los Angeles needs to explore adding him to the mix.
“The Lakers have some salary cap issues and are focused on trying to get Austin Reaves under a long-term deal before he tests free agency next offseason, but if the front office can get creative and find a way to bring the Kings’ big man on board, he could very well be the difference between watching the Thunder compete for another NBA title and battling for one themselves.”
Does Sabonis Really Upgrade the Lakers Much?
Sabonis is a great player and a three-time All-Star, but he’s averaging fewer points per game than Deandre Ayton this season. If they’re both healthy, it’s hard to see how he’s that much of an upgrade over Ayton.
He is a better 3-point shooter and a slightly better rebounder, so he’d be an upgrade, but might not be worth the price it would cost to trade for him. If the Lakers can get Sabonis at a decent price, then he’d be a smart player to add, but they shouldn’t sell the farm for him.
Multiple Teams Could Be Interested in Sabonis
Another thing that could make a Sabonis trade difficult for the Lakers is the fact that multiple teams would want to acquire him if he becomes available, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
“So, as it relates to Sabonis, my understanding is there are at least a few teams that have raised their hand to say, ‘Yeah, he’s somebody we’d want to talk about,’” Amick said on the “Carmichael Dave Show.” “I’ve said it on your show before — I don’t have that sort of information about Zach (LaVine).”
The Kings might be more inclined to trade Sabonis to a team they don’t share a state with, like the Lakers. It won’t stop them completely, but they’d likely take a comparable deal from another team over the Lakers.
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