Lakers Explore Trades with Pelicans, Celtics for $112M Star, Center Upgrade

The Los Angeles Lakers are actively seeking to bolster their roster this offseason, focusing on adding a versatile wing and a center to contend seriously for the NBA championship. One proposed trade involves acquiring two-way wing Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Rui Hachimura, rookie Dalton Knecht, and future draft picks; Murphy’s scoring ability and defensive versatility would complement LeBron James and Luka Doncic well. The Pelicans, who are open to trading most of their roster following a poor season, would benefit by obtaining a promising young wing and draft assets in this deal. Meanwhile, there is speculation about the Lakers targeting veteran centers such as Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics or even Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers, though these trades would be complex due to salary and trade asset constraints. Amid these potential acquisitions, some analysts suggest the Lakers consider trading shooting guard Austin Reaves, who is expected to command a large contract extension, as the current core of LeBron, Doncic, and Reaves is viewed by some as insufficient to secure a championship. Overall, the Lakers face challenges with limited trade assets and salary cap flexibility, necessitating creative moves to address key roster weaknesses, particularly at the wing and center positions.