This proposed trade sends Keldon Johnson to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers are a quality team as of right now, as they have made some solid moves in free agency. They have retained their important free agents such as Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, and added some new names in free agency such as Gabe Vincent. Still, they need more talent to compete with the heavyweights of the Western Conference such as the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns.
Perhaps a trade could help the Los Angeles Lakers add more talent. This move sends them two-way forward Keldon Johnson from the San Antonio Spurs, in exchange for a package centered around D’Angelo Russell.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Keldon Johnson
San Antonio Spurs Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis, 2029 First-Round Pick
There’s no doubt that this would be a trade that would make the Los Angeles Lakers a much better team. There is a trade that could be a win-win move for both teams, so let us dive into why this is a good trade for both sides.
The Los Angeles Lakers Land An Elite Third Option In Keldon Johnson
Though a lot of the league’s top-tier stars may not be attainable for the Los Angeles Lakers due to their relatively limited asset chest, Keldon Johnson is a young forward with upside that the San Antonio Spurs might be willing to trade. This past season, Keldon Johnson averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists for the Spurs, while shooting 45.2% from the field. Though he wasn’t the best 3PT shooter during the 2022-23 season (32.9% from the 3PT range), he has shown that he can be efficient from that area, shooting 39.8% from beyond the arc during the 2021-22 season.
Keldon Johnson is clearly a quality scorer, and he would likely slot in as the No. 3 option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He also has two-way potential, standing at 6’5 with a 6’9 wingspan with great athleticism for his position. If the Los Angeles Lakers were to land Johnson, then he would likely slot in at the SG position (assuming his shooting reverts to being efficient), with Austin Reaves at the PG position. That would definitely be an interesting backcourt, with great size for both positions. With LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Anthony Davis rounding out the rest of the starting lineup, the Lakers would have a size and length advantage over most teams in the league.
In this trade scenario, the Los Angeles Lakers would send out D’Angelo Russell, alongside two prospects Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis. They would also send out a future first-round pick. This would essentially mean that the Los Angeles Lakers are going all-in right now, but that is the right move. When one has LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster, the right move is to try and compete for a championship every season.
The San Antonio Spurs Land An Elite Point Guard And Some Young Prospects
The main thing that the San Antonio Spurs have to do is build around Victor Wembanyama. For big men, the key to helping them be successful is finding a point guard that can find that player for easy looks. Right now, the Spurs only have Devonte Graham on the roster, and he is known more for being a 3PT shooter rather than a playmaker. Perhaps making a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell is the right move.
This past season, D’Angelo Russell averaged 17.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists while shooting 41.4% from 3PT range. As of right now, most people would agree that D’Angelo Russell is not an All-Star-level player. However, an increased opportunity on the San Antonio Spurs could help Russell thrive, and playing with Victor Wembanyama would make his life a lot easier. As a No. 2 option, D’Angelo Russell could potentially have higher production and eventually earn a bigger contract than the two-year $34 million contract he got from the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
The rest of this deal consists of young prospects and draft compensation. Maxwell Lewis and Jalen Hood-Schifino are both solid defensive players, with 3 and D potential. They would likely thrive under coach Gregg Popovich, and he could help them become the best versions of themselves. The 2029 first-round pick would obviously be a huge pickup for the Spurs, as it is likely to be outside of the Lakers’ current contention window and thus valuable.
The San Antonio Spurs would get a good value deal in this trade scenario with the Los Angeles Lakers. This would help them get a staring-level point guard next to Victor Wembanyama, who could aid the big man’s development. They could even re-sign D’Angelo Russell in the future if they like what they see from him.
This Could Be A Win-Win Trade For The Los Angeles Lakers And The San Antonio Spurs
This could definitely be one of those difference-making trades for the Los Angeles Lakers, that could really take them to the next level. Keldon Johnson is an underrated player in today’s league, and he would get much less defensive attention on the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 3 option. That would end up helping him be more efficient and allow him to focus on defense himself, and playing in a two-way role next to a superstar is likely the right role for him on a championship-level team.
Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs would get a solid value deal for one of their best young players. D’Angelo Russell is still a good player that can help the San Antonio Spurs get wins, and as a starting point guard, he would really get to showcase his floor general abilities.
It remains to be seen if the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs will end up coming together on this trade. There have been no trade talks with this framework as of right now, but things could absolutely change in the future.
