The Los Angeles Lakers’ frontcourt woes are finally behind them, as Deandre Ayton and Jayson Hayes are slated to hold down the fort for the franchise in the low post.
The Lakers also agreed to take part in a massive seven-team trade that’ll land them promising rookie forward Adou Thiero. Are the Lakers finished making moves?
From Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman’s perspective, the organization could acquire a 6-foot-4 Golden State Warriors guard later this summer.
“They (Lakers) would add a lot of useful pieces around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (in a three-team trade sending Moses Moody and Gui Santos to the Atlanta Hawks, Buddy Hield, Brandin Podziemski, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Jonathan Kuminga via sign and trade to the Lakers, and LeBron James, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Shake Milton, and Jordan Goodwin to the Warriors),” Caudell and Raman wrote.
“Kuminga could take on a bigger role with the Lakers, and Podziemski and Hield give the Lakers solid options off the bench. Jackson-Davis is an intriguing young option for this team, and they create a lot of future flexibility.”
Hield hasn’t made the most compelling case to remain with the Warriors beyond the 2024-25 season.
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The former Philadelphia 76ers sharpshooter was acquired by the Dubs last offseason in a deal that sent declining former Splash Brother Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks.
Hield was on pace to shoot above 40% from the year in the early going, but was an up-and-down long-range threat after November.
The Oklahoma product averaged 11.1 points per game on 41.7% field goal shooting and 37.0% three-point shooting in 82 games with the Warriors this past season.
If the Lakers were to swap James, a four-time NBA champion who’s the league’s All-time leading scorer, for Hield, they would likely want the 32-year-old to refrain from his erratic perimeter shooting ways alongside a willing passer in Doncic.
A change of scenery could result in a career year from deep for Hield.
More NBA: Lakers agree to record-breaking seven-team trade after blockbuster Luka Doncic deal
