Los Angeles Lakers “GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY” Trade After Donovan Mitchell to Cavs! | Lakers Trade News
Welcome back everyone to the complete surprise of pretty much everybody, Donovan Mitchell has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. I really don’t think anyone saw this one coming either after over a month of trade negotiations between Utah and New York. The Cleveland Cavaliers seemingly came out of nowhere I mean we did hear rumors about them being interested in Donovan Mitchell but never even a hint that they made a real offer for him all of that changed earlier today though as we got arguably the biggest woj bomb of the summer with Donovan Mitchell being traded to Cleveland and then Colin Sexton, Lowry Mark in ochai agabji and five total for Islam picks being dealt in Utah. I really don’t think their offer was any better than what New York was offering and especially now with RJ Barrett included but regardless the Utah Jazz got the big time draft haul they wanted and on the flip side the Cleveland Cavaliers have now committed their long-term future to a young Corps of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
I know that many of you want to know how this deal could relate to Lakers, I’ve been noticing a lot of fans mentioning how this could end their trade talks with Utah but in my opinion it will likely only push them forward following the trade being completed the Utah Jazz swab 18 players on their roster and as we know a team is only allowed to carry a total of 15. They might not be able to move any of the three players they acquired through the Donovan Mitchell trade but I imagine they are open to trading literally anyone else we’ve already heard reports that they plan to have a fire sale following a Donovan Mitchell trade and that no player will be off limits either which could potentially create a golden opportunity for team like the Lakers between Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and Malik Beasley.
Those are four quality players who are now available and ones who get each help the Lakers do the attractive options would have to be bugged on a and Beasley due to their three-point shooting and team-friendly contracts but if I were the Lakers here I would not rule out anything the Utah Jazz got the draft picks they wanted and now they’ll be looking to offload veteran players. I mean they would obviously not turn down more draft picks but it won’t be their main priority moving forward either from Trading away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy robert alone they have obtained seven unprotected first round draft picks and then when you throw in future pick swaps they gain the rights to 10 of them again they are definitely not in need of many more draft picks.
Their main goal now will be Doppler future salary along with actually trying to get worse get a higher draft pick moving forward and in order to do that, they need to trade away Talent without getting any in return or get a player that they could simply work out a contract bio with and that to me points to one name in particular with that being Russell Westbrook the largest contract in the League this year and one who takes up nearly a third of a team salary cap trading for his contract would allow Utah to offload up to three players at one time and get significantly worse while doing it too and again they’re obviously trying to do that.
In addition to that Westbrook would never have to play a game for them either Utah would happily buy him out of his contract and allow his salary to fill up their payroll now they would want to draft pick in return for doing it but the players they can offer in return would make it worth it it really all depends on what the Lakers are looking for in return I think we can all agree that Bogdanovic would be their main target he is the only one that has repeatedly been linked to them and they quite obviously would like to have him and I completely agree with that too as bug Donovan chargingly feels their needs more than any player available right now Not only would he provide three-point shooting which is currently their biggest need but he would do it at the position they needed at most too with that being powerful word because right now.
They don’t have a floor spacing four and like markieff Morris proved in the past that has been the key to unlocking their small ball lineups with Anthony Davis at the five they’ve never really had a shooter like bogdanovic before either a high volume 39.2 percent career average three-point shooter he would theoretically fit perfectly within the Robbins it’s more than only three point shooting with him too as he could legitimately be their third option on offense coming off of averaging over 18 points per game bogdanovic would fill that role for them better than anyone who has tried during the LeBron Anthony Davis ERA with that being said though who would they be getting a return along with them bogdanovic alone cannot make a trade for Westbrook work financially at least one more player would need to be included with them.
And here’s where it comes down to preference along with how much draft compensation they would be willing to give up if they are looking for even more three-point shooting then they might Target Malik Beasley or if they’re looking for more scoring in a player they’re familiar with then they would likely Target Jordan Clarkson both of which could actually be included along with Bogdanovic the only problem is doing that would cost them both their tradable first round rap picks which is fine if they believe they are worth it but I kind of doubt that they do they have been very hesitant to trade their draft picks let alone for a non-star player the only player they’ve been willing to give them up for thus far has been Kyrie Irving and we all know how that turned out.
Maybe the inclusion of Jared Vanderbilt could help change their mind as he could be thrown in here as well if the Jazz are willing to include him but I’m not sure that would be enough either I mean that would definitely make me a bit more interested with Vanderbilt being a quality defensive player and rebounder but that’s not their only option here the alternative would be including Mike Conley rather than Clarkson and Beasley which although some are against it could save them a first round draft pick that pick could be used to making additional trade somewhere else or to be saved for later at the trade deadline and that alone would make this intriguing if there is one player that Utah wants to trade more than any it would have to be Mike Conley not that he is bad or anything but he clearly is their worst contract and primarily due to him being guaranteed another 37 million dollars with 22 of it being guaranteed this year and then 14 of it being guaranteed next year which in reality is really not that bad.
When throwing in his great three-point shooting high-level playmaking and overall point guard skills that alone could make him worth the price and especially if it meant saving a first round draft pick and if they’re lucky they might even be able to get to your Vanderbilt here as well as his con track would fit perfectly with theirs now that might be a bit much to ask for for only one first round draft pick in return but I would definitely try to get him if they can and if they could that would be the perfect trade for them to make it would really address their needs all over the board more three-point shooting with Conley and bogdanovic a true point guard for when LeBron is on the bench with Conley and a burst style defender in Vanderbilt to add more front core adapt they would likely have to include an additional second round draft pick or two to make it happen but I would be willing to do that when considering the return package and there is no doubt that Utah is willing to make another move either which is more than can be said for Indiana who continues to look like a bad trade partner.
What do you guys think though do you agree or disagree with Utah being a great trade partner following the Donovan Mitchell trade and who would you target from their team in particular let me know your thoughts by commenting down below and we can talk about it.