The Los Angeles Lakers have had a busy offseason, capped off by the free-agency signings of Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia.
While the three roster additions will help the Lakers make a significant leap defensively in the 2025-26 season, they’re still not viewed in the same tier as West powerhouses such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers could use at least one stretch-big and another defensive-minded guard, analysts believe. To that end, Sporting News’ Jeremy Kruger floated a three-team Lakers trade that would see the team add two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic and Ayo Dosunmu, while parting with a few players and pick swaps.
Lakers would receive: Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu, two Thunder second-round picks
Bulls would receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, 2025 76ers first (via OKC)
Thunder would receive: 2028 and 2030 unprotected pick swaps with the Lakers
How the Trade Helps Lakers
Kruger noted the three-team Lakers trade would also open two roster spots, with which the team can potentially sign Amir Coffey and Chris Boucher to vet-minimum deals.
“This would really round out the Lakers’ roster nicely,” he argued. “Vucevic and Deandre Ayton would instantly be one of the top big-man pairings in the Western Conference. Dosumu would be a great secondary ball-handler behind Luka and would bring another defensive weapon to the Lakers.
“Coffey and Boucher would also be solid deep bench players for the Lakers. They are both solid defensive players who are still young and can provide a lot of upside for the Lakers’ future.
“While Vucevic would be the headline of this trade, he is ultimately a one-sided player. For everything incredible he gives you on offense, he takes away from the team on defense. Giving up two unprotected pick swaps with a team that is likely to have the worst picks in the NBA the next few years is definitely risky.
“The Lakers wouldn’t be giving up really any key bench players, while they’d be getting four players who could play important minutes for the team. For that, this Lakers trade idea could be worth pursuing.”
Vincent, Vando Struggle as Lakers
To Kruger’s point, Vanderbilt and Vincent were non-factors for a Lakers team that clinched the No. 3 seed last season. Vanderbilt averaged 4.1 points and 5.1 rebounds from 16.1 minutes per game, appearing in just 36 games due to injury.
As for Vincent, the veteran guard was supposed to back up Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, a role he didn’t necessarily thrive in. In 72 games, Vincent averaged 6.4 points, 1.4 assists, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.7 steals while shooting a mediocre 35% from three.
By all accounts, the Lakers will jump at the opportunity of swapping out Vanderbilt and Vincent for Dosunmu and Vucevic. The latter, while a defensive liability, can still produce at an elite level on the offensive end. Last season, the 34-year-old Vucevic averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over 73 games, while maintaining 53/40/80 shooting splits.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Bulls are widely expected to buy out Vucevic if they’re unable to find a trade partner.
“There hasn’t been much of a market for Nikola Vucevic all along, dating back to last trade deadline,” Fischer told Bleacher Report. “I think at this juncture, we’re probably more likely to see a Nikola Vucevic buyout midseason than we are to see a trade.”
For the Lakers, the acquisition of Vucevic would be a low-risk, high-reward move, considering that he’s on an expiring contract of $21 million.
3-Team Lakers Trade Pitch Lands All-Star, Defensive Guard