On Tuesday night, the Toronto Raptors visit the Los Angeles Lakers in a game that offers a distinctive chance for Lakers enthusiasts. With the recent trade of OG Anunoby, the Raptors may be on the brink of a significant roster overhaul, presenting an intriguing opportunity for the Lakers.
The primary target for Toronto in potential trades this season is Pascal Siakam, and it would be surprising if he remains with the team beyond the deadline. Siakam’s contract is set to expire, and it appears he has no intentions of committing to a long-term stay in Toronto. Drawing lessons from the Fred VanVleet situation, the Raptors should avoid letting another star player depart without getting value in return.
While Siakam might be financially out of reach for the Lakers, they can leverage the Siakam trade speculations to their advantage. Instead of pursuing a trade for someone like Gary Trent Jr, the Lakers could capitalize on the potential Raptors’ roster shakeup by involving themselves in a Siakam trade as a third-party facilitator.
Even if acquiring Siakam directly seems unlikely for the Lakers, there’s a possibility of obtaining another player in a multi-team trade, one whom the Raptors may not require. This opens up various opportunities for the Lakers, including the chance to bring in a player who has been linked to the team in trade rumors for several years.
Lakers could theoretically trade for Buddy Hield via Pascal Siakam
Buddy Hield has once again become a subject of trade discussions, and the Indiana Pacers are prominently mentioned in the Siakam trade talks. Given Hield’s salary, it appears almost necessary for him to be included in a deal for Siakam.
While Toronto may not have a pressing need for Hield, considering his expiring contract, they could potentially absorb him as salary filler or explore options to trade him for additional assets from another team. This is where the Lakers could enter the picture.
Considering the increasing likelihood of a D’Angelo Russell trade, he emerges as a clear candidate for the Lakers to include in this potential deal. The structure of this trade, as well as evaluations for each involved party, will be examined in detail on the subsequent pages.
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