Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players team must trade to sign LeBron James
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to convince LeBron James to head west in 2018, they're going to have to move some pieces around between now and February.
It's often said that patience pays off. In the case of the Los Angeles Lakers, it appears that their patience may actually pay serious dividends during the 2018 offseason.
A report by The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor suggested that LeBron James could seriously consider a move to Los Angeles when he hits free agency in 2018. While the Los Angeles Clippers are also mentioned as a potential destination, the Lakers seem like the more likely landing spot. That is, if the right pieces fall into place.
The Lakers' pursuit of Paul George will be the first step. They appear primed to sign him next offseason, which would make the Lake Show all the more appealing to the King. That would give the Lakers two bonafide superstars to go along with their exciting group of up-and-comers. Realistically, that could be enough to return this team to relevance.
Before that can happen, though, the Lakers must move some pieces around. More specifically, they must get a number of their overpriced contracts off the books. If that doesn't happen, the Lakers simply aren't going to have the cap space to handle adding two max contracts to the equation.
That means some current players will need to be dealt between now and next February's trade deadline. With that in mind, I've decided to take a look at three players who must be moved if the Lakers stand a real chance of signing James and George when the 2018 offseason rolls around.
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Luol Deng, SF
Contract Remaining: 3 years, $18 million annually
The second of two huge free agency bloopers a year ago, the Lakers will be looking to find someone willing to absorb Luol Deng's $18 million annual salary. That, however, is going to be a rather tall task considering his age and declining effectiveness.
Still, I don't think he'll be quite as difficult to move as the next guy on this list. Even at 32 years of age, Deng can still get the job done. He's a tough, willy veteran who brings versatility and defensive prowess to the floor. The biggest issue recently has been his inability to stay healthy.
Deng played in only 56 games this past season, and is coming off a pectoral muscle surgery. Although he's expected to be ready by October, it's anyone's guess what another year of wear and tear will have done to his quality of play. With that being said, I believe there could be a few teams interested in acquiring him — for the right price.
That means it's going to cost the Lakers at least one of their top prospects or future draft picks to convince someone to take Deng's deal off their books. However, if it means getting James and/or George next year, then that's what it takes.
Magic Johnson came into this situation knowing there would be some tough decisions to make. Now he's just needs to find a trade partner and pull the trigger.
Los Angeles Lakers
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Timofey Mozgov, C
Contract Remaining: 3 years, $16 million annually
This is the other obvious sore thumb the Lakers' new regime is dealing with from a financial standpoint. The signing of Timofey Mozgov last offseason was a huge snafu, especially considering the price tag. Getting his deal off the books should be Magic's top priority.
Unfortunately, making that happen is easier said than done. Not many teams are going to want to take on that type of contract for an average-at-best center. There just isn't much of a market for Mozgov, which is likely why he hasn't already been traded at this point.
Don't think that'll discourage the Lakers from exploring every potential trade opportunity, though. They know what getting rid of his contract will mean for the future of this franchise. It'll likely take parting with some young talent or draft assets, but those are the repercussions of trying to clean up Jim Buss' mess.
Sometimes you swing and miss. Mozgov was about as bad of a whiff as the Lakers could have expected last offseason. Despite that fact, moving on from him is the only way to move forward. Magic must find a team willing to take him on before James can become a realistic target.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Julius Randle, PF
Contract Remaining: $4,149,242 (2017-18), RFA in 2018
Most of the Lakers' young core is locked up through the 2018-19 campaign. Unfortunately, that isn't the case for Julius Randle, who will hit restricted free agency next offseason. While that doesn't necessarily mean the Lakers need to move on, it may be in their best interest.
Don't get me wrong — that's not to say Randle can't be an asset. However, if the Lakers are going to unload Deng and/or Mozgov, they're going to have to find a way to sweeten the deal. Realistically, Randle makes the most sense as a trade chip.
Why? Well first off, he's obviously a starting-caliber power forward who can help teams win now. He's proven over the last two years that he's capable of owning the boards and being an offensive playmaker. His game is still a work in progress, but the ceiling is very high for the former No. 7 overall pick.
However, re-signing him isn't going to be easy for the Lakers. Considering the points I just made, Randle will likely be looking for big money on his next contract. That type of money is going to make it almost impossible to sign James or George, especially if Deng and Mozgov are still around.
It seems strange to imagine the Lakers letting Randle go. In the end, though, it's the right move to get this franchise moving forward. James and George are both capable of playing the 4, and Larry Nance Jr. is a quality role player who is still under contract through 2019.
It's been great, but sometimes you gotta let the good ones go.
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