The Los Angeles Lakers still have two significant holes to fill on their roster. They need a backup center and someone who can log major minutes at power forward.
For nearly two months, the Lakers have been pursuing Jonathan Kuminga. L.A. sees major upside in Kuminga, and rightfully so. He’s 23 and can defend multiple positions. But at what point will L.A. look toward the trade market for an unsuspecting upgrade?
In a traditional trade, landing New York Knicks star Mikal Bridges would be highly challenging for the Lakers because of his hefty contract. But this proposed four-team trade involving the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks would send Bridges to Los Angeles while giving the Knicks a starting center, which they now badly need after losing Mitchell Robinson to those no-good-for-nothing Boston Celtics.
Here’s how that unique trade could work.
Lakers receive: Mikal Bridges and a 2033 second-round pick (via MIL)
Knicks receive: Myles Turner, Bronny James and second round picks in 2031 (via LAL and LAC) and 2032 (via LAL)
Clippers receive: Jake LaRavia
Bucks receive: Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaden Hardy
This trade is hypothetical and intended to explore one way the Lakers could address their need for a starting-caliber wing while giving the Knicks an elite two-way center, allowing them to move into a much stronger position to defend their NBA title.
Mikal Bridges Could Give Lakers the Wing They Have Been Looking For
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 08: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks drives against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Lakers pursuit of Kuminga is rooted in L.A’.s need for defense and athleticism on the wing. Bridges doesn’t fly like Kuminga, but he can surely contribute to a title-winner.
The 29-year-old averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 39.1 percent from the 3-point line on 5.9 attempts per game for New York last season. Bridges has become one of the league’s most dependable complementary players. He may cost the Lakers a pretty penny, but he’ll give them 15 points and a couple of 3s per contest. And he won’t miss games. Bridges has played 565 regular-season games and 87 playoff games, including four consecutive seasons in which he appeared in every regular season game.
The Lakers would like their chances a lot more against the juggernauts of the West with a starting lineup of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Bridges and Walker Kessler.
Myles Turner Could Give Knicks a Major Upgrade at Center
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 19: Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives against Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on January 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
New York lost Robinson to the Celtics in free agency, leaving the defending NBA champions without the player who had been their primary rim protector. Turner, 30, would give the Knicks an elite interior defender and a big man who can step out and cash 3-pointers. Surely, Jalen Brunson wouldn’t mind having a big guy like that on the court.
The 6-foot-11 center is a two-time blocks champion and has averaged at least 1.5 blocks per game in seven different seasons. Even through all the dysfunction in Milwaukee last season, Turner averaged 13.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks last season while shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc. He has made at least 100 3s in seven seasons and knocked down 154 during the 2024-25 campaign, his last for the Indiana Pacers.
In that season, Turner was especially valuable for the Pacers as the team marched to the 2025 NBA Finals. In the playoffs, the 6’11” big man averaged 13.8 points and two blocks per game.
Adding Turner would sure make the Knicks more formidable than they are now, even if it means losing Bridges.
For the Lakers, Bridges won’t replace LeBron James, but he’s a darn good player to have as the third or fourth option.
Knicks Proposed to Trade Mikal Bridges to Lakers for 6’11” Elite Two-Way Center