Getty LeBron James defends Trae Young.
The Los Angeles Lakers would pick up All-Star point guard Trae Young as part of a wild hypothetical trade proposal that would give the Lakers a third star to go with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Referring to his own proposal as “madness,” Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey four-team trade also would effectively dismantle the core of the Golden State Warriors dynasty while moving around big stars: the Warriors’ Draymond Green to the Atlanta Hawks, Karl-Anthony Towns to the Warriors, and Austin Reaves and Chris Paul to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“[Young would] take some of the creation and distribution burden off LeBron James and would also give L.A. an identity in the soon-to-come post-LeBron era,” Bailey wrote in a story published April 2. “Filling out the supporting cast wouldn’t be easy, but a Trae-AD pick-and-roll would be potentially electrifying, both with and without LeBron.”
The Lakers would also land Josh Minott from Minnesota and Gui Santos from Golden State while shipping out Reaves along with D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino and LA’s 2029 and 2031 first-round picks to the Hawks, and Rui Hachimora to the Warriors.
It would be a massive price to pay, but Young is only 25 and a three-time All-Star averaging 26.4 points and 10.8 assists this season while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range.
Young’s “ceiling is much higher than any of the players they’d be sending out,” Bailey wrote.
The Lakers Will Look for a 3rd Star This Offseason: Report
Young is on the Lakers’ radar as a potential acquisition, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
“The one name I continually hear is Trae Young. He’s been to Lakers playoff games before. He’s a Klutch Sports client,” Boha said during a March 29 Q&A with fans, referring to the agency representing both James and Davis. “That’s probably the most realistic one right now.”
Young would be the third star the Lakers (42-33, ninth place in the Western Conference) plan to seek in the offseason, Boha said.
“Yes, they are [going after a third star]. And I can confirm that from multiple sources. They are going third-star hunting this offseason,” he said. “And we’ll see how that affects the [D’Angelo Russell] situation. We’ll see how — you probably have to give up Austin [Reaves] in almost any … third-star trade.”
Russell has an $18.7 million player option but could test the free agency market. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on March 27 that Russell would like a multiyear deal with the Lakers.
Anthony Davis Could Help Young Defensively
Young, a 2021-22 All-NBA selection, isn’t known for his defense, but Bailey wrote that Davis would be able to help Young defensively.
Davis is a three-time block champion who has been named to four NBA All-Defensive teams. He’d have to make up for what Young lacks on defense but can succeed with him offensively as Young has averaged over 9.3 assists in every season outside of his rookie year.
“Young clearly has defensive issues, but Anthony Davis could help cover up some of those,” Bailey wrote. “And over the last five seasons, the Hawks playmaker has averaged 27.2 points, 9.9 assists and 2.8 made threes per game.”