Getty Image
LeBron James is on the verge of history as he chases down Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
That’s probably a very good thing for the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s also probably the only reason people are willing to pay to go see the Lakers these days.
Los Angeles is coming off 2021-22 season where it missed the playoffs altogether. Now it looks like the Lakers are only track to do so yet again in 2023. LA sits at 25-28 on the year and has the fourth-worst record in the Western Conference. James and company are a game out of the play-in round of the playoffs and it doesn’t appear a major turnaround is coming soon.
But one rumored trade proposal could just be enough to swing things in the favor of the Lakers as the regular season hits the home stretch.
Rumored Trade Links Lakers With Three-Team Deal For Sixers Star Tobias Harris
Los Angeles finally got active in the trade market when it acquired Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards. But that alone likely will not fix all of the Lakers issues.
They’re going to need to take a bigger swing at things. Which is exactly what Jack Simone of Heavy.com believes could happen.
Here’s an outline of a potential three-team trade with the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets that would help LA compete for a championship:
Lakers receive: Tobias Harris, Terry Rozier, Matisse Thybulle
76ers receive: Kelly Oubre Jr., Patrick Beverley, Cody Martin
Hornets receive: Russell Westbrook, Jaden Springer, 2027 1st-Round Pick (Top-3 Protected via LAL), 2029 1st-Round Pick (via PHI), 2023 2nd-Round Pick (via LAL), 2025 2nd-Round Pick (via LAL)
Simone goes on to say that while the Lakers could pursue the blockbuster deal, a deal on the periphery is more likely to occur. Likewise, there have been no indications that the Sixers would like to move off Harris, whose contract expires following the 2023-24 season.
The move would undoubtedly boost the Lakers’ hopes, and Charlotte makes out like bandits in the situation, but it’s hard to see what the Sixers get from losing the best player in the deal and a draft pick.
It’s safe to say you can probably table this one, but you never know in the NBA.