The Los Angeles Lakers have no time to waste if they want to realistically compete for their 18th title in franchise history with both Luka Dončić and LeBron James at the helm.
As a result, their general manager Rob Pelinka must quickly devise a strategy to put the storied organization in the best position possible to stand out in an unbelievably loaded Western Conference in 2025-26.
Pelinka’s plan will likely involve staying active on the trade market leading up to next season’s trade deadline, and a desirable target could become available by that time.
If the Lakers truly wish to push all of their chips to the middle of the table in 2025-26, it’s conceivable that Pelinka will take every measure necessary to improve every facet of the roster, including the team’s lacking bench unit. In that case, contacting the Philadelphia 76ers to inquire about a deal for their aging shot-maker and 2017 Sixth Man of the Year recipient Eric Gordon might be a good idea.
To bring in Gordon, the Lakers would have to part with a young talent like Adou Thiero, but Pelinka could view a deal of this nature as the result of an all-in push for a championship.
Sure, the 36-year-old’s best years are behind him, but his accurate three-point shooting and playoff experience might pique the interests of the Lakers’ front office.
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The 17-year veteran appeared in just 39 games for the 76ers in 2024-25, and he contributed 6.8 points and 1.7 assists while knocking down 40.9% of his attempts from distance in just 19.7 minutes of action.
Gordon arguably reached his peak as a former member of the Houston Rockets, when he took home the Sixth Man of the Year award for the team in 2017 and finished as the second-place vote-getter for the same honor in 2017-18, when he averaged 18.0 points and connected on 35.9% of his 8.8 three-point attempts in 69 contests.
Though he’s headed towards the conclusion of a long and successful career, Gordon could make one last effort to capture an NBA title alongside Dončić and James, two gifted passers who would easily find the long-range threat for open catch-and-shoot looks if this hypothetical deal were to come to fruition.
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