If the Lakers complete these two trade deadline day transactions for Kyrie Irving and DeMar DeRozan, they could become a serious contender for the championship.
With a 27–25 record, the Los Angeles Lakers are not having the season that many had anticipated. After making it to the Western Conference Finals the previous season and adding players in the summer, the Lakers were regarded as one of the NBA’s contenders. Instead, with their current ninth-seed ranking, they appear to be a play-in team once more.
Since the beginning of the season, they have actively sought to improve their roster, but they have had difficulty locating the ideal value players. The Lakers are not willing to give up any significant assets in exchange for players they do not believe are All-Stars or NBA players. If the Lakers do ultimately decide to go all in, two players who were awarded that tag the previous season might be the ideal choices.
The Lakers have been linked to both Kyrie Irving and DeMar DeRozan on multiple occasions, but due to differences in value, a deal has never been finalized. The Lakers can empty their asset cabinet for these two elite-caliber veterans, with the Bulls hoping to offload an expiring DeRozan and the Mavericks trying to perfect the Luka Doncic and Kyrie tandem.
The Lakers must act quickly to complete these transactions as there are just 12 hours remaining before the trade deadline.
With the Bulls this season, DeMar DeRozan has averaged 22.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. DeRozan was not considered for the All-Star team due to the Bulls’ lack of success despite numerous injuries, but he is still capable of playing well when the team is winning. The timing of this trade could not be more ideal as the native of Los Angeles has been associated with the Lakers since before he signed with the Bulls.
The Bulls have a first-round exit ceiling at this point in the postseason because they aren’t competitive or healthy enough to go far. It might be wise to move DeRozan and give young players more development-related responsibilities. This, Coby White has demonstrated star potential.
