Grade the trade: Proposed Hawks trade lands $40 million trio from West rival
Lakers go all-in for Hawks Trae Young in proposed trade
The Lakers have already begun making changes. They fired Head Coach Darvin Ham not long after the team was eliminated by the Denver Nuggets for the second straight season, this time in the first round of the playoffs.
Their offseason is one to watch. They could lose one of their best player trade assets for free.
D’Angelo Russell is set to count for $18.9 million against the cap in Year 2 of a two-year, $36 million contract.
He also waived the no-trade privileges he was entitled to when he signed that deal. But Russell has a player option for the 2024-25 season and suggested that he plans to use the leverage that provides him this offseason.
“When I signed my contract last year, I knew what position I was going to put myself in, so to be in that position now with a little leverage, I’ll try to take advantage of it.” D'Angelo Russell on his future. pic.twitter.com/3f5nTJvyEr
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 30, 2024
Reaves is their top player asset in trade value outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick said on “The Rich Eisen Show” on May 17 that the Lakers have eyes on Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell over Young.
Amick also reported that the Lakers are split internally over the benefits of adding Young in general. James was in favor of a Young trade this season. Amick reports Klutch wanted the trade too but has lost a lot of pull within the organization.
Young’s recent split from Klutch Sports for rival agency CAA adds another layer of complexity.
All of this points to seeking out a consensus on a target before making such an all-in move amid speculation Davis could be a higher priority to keep happy going forward.
Grade – B: This isn’t ideal. Young would solve a key issue for the Lakers but could actually make a better target if James isn’t there to command the ball.
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