The Los Angeles Lakers have made multiple off-season moves already and Trae Young is still on the radar. Last season, things weren’t as good as they seemed during the playoffs. LA started on a very bad note and barely got wins. The roster wasn’t well balanced and injuries dragged the Lakers severely. At one point, fans and experts were convinced that they would not make the playoffs because of the long list of issues they had.
But things quickly changed before the trade deadline. Rob Pelinka and his team revamped a part of the roster, mainly the Lakers’ bench. Russell Westbrook was shipped to the Clippers, and the Lakers signed D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Rui Hachimura, and Thomas Bryant. Russell filled out the point guard position very well and elevated the Lakers’ three-point shooting. Hachimura and Bryant were used as backups for Anthony Davis.
These minor changes took the Los Angeles Lakers a long way. Finally, LeBron James and his squad achieved a great playoff run which was more than enough to prove everybody wrong. However, a title was what they were hoping for, and losing to the Denver Nuggets had them disgruntled. Pelinka decided to act quickly and utilize the free-agent market. Now, the Lakers seemed very balanced and ready to win another championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers refused to trade for Kyrie Irving continuity purposes
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired a couple of valuable players such as Gabe Vincent, who is just coming off an impressive stint with 2023 NBA Finalists, the Miami Heat. They also acquired Jaxson Hayes, Taurean Prince, and Cam Reddish as well. LA re-signed Hachimura, Russell, and standout player Austin Reaves. However, Pelinka still seems to be in search of a fitting guard to formulate a potential Big 3.
Last season, there were several talks regarding the Los Angeles Lakers signing Kyrie Irving. Obviously, this wouldn’t have worked out considering how much the Lakers would’ve had to put on the line. And they also let go of the idea mainly due to continuity concerns. Irving was on an expiring contract and there was no guarantee of him returning if things went south.
The Lakers have had Trae Young on their radar, per @jovanbuha
“The Lakers have pursued other star guards, including Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry and Kyrie Irving. Even into this summer, there were some in the organization, including James, who still had an interest in pursuing… pic.twitter.com/5eRzbHQigl
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 31, 2023
This is exactly why the Lakers are still eyeing Trae Young and he is more of a team player as well. Young would be an extra offensive boost as well as he averaged 26.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. Keep in mind how good his ability to create plays and facilitate has been over the years. The Lakers may receive a first-class ticket to the NBA Finals.