The Los Angeles Lakers didn't land their splash targets this offseason, even with LeBron James offering to take a pay cut to accommodate the move.
Klay Thompson signed with the Dallas Mavericks. DeMar DeRozan signed with the Sacramento Kings. Buddy Hield signed with the Golden State Warriors. However, despite their apparent misfortune, the Lakers likely haven’t given up hope yet. Instead, they’re biding their time until an opportunity presents itself.
“The (Cleveland) Cavaliers reinvested in Donovan Mitchell and may stick with their core of Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Mitchell and (Darius) Garland,” Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus writes. “If something changes, the Lakers would undoubtedly be interested in the team's young point guard. The Lakers would view him as their cornerstone point guard, and the price would be presumably both of LA's available first-round picks.”
Among the league’s better players regardless of position, Garland would likely be an upgrade over Lakers starting point guard D’Angelo Russell.
There are similarities between the two, both are upper-echelon passers in an era when lead guards are more known for scoring. They’re also shifty ball-handlers with a penchant for making threes. Yet, Garland has been more efficient, shooting 45.7% from the field and 39.0% from three-point range over the past four seasons. For comparison, Russell converted 44.3% of his field goals and 38.4% of his threes in that span.
However, the difference between the two may not be significant enough to justify the price. Furthermore, the Cavaliers have no reason to trade for an older point guard on an expiring contract. With Russell not having what would be considered a sparkling reputation, it’ll be challenging to route him to other teams.
Nonetheless, with Russell’s playoff struggles he’s on the hot seat. Playing well in the regular season is commendable, but the Lakers are trying to win a championship. So, with his roller-coaster performances a potential pitfall in the postseason Los Angeles might be willing to do what it takes to acquire Cleveland’s floor general.
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