In a three-team trade that included the acquisition of Dejounte Murray and Alex Caruso, the Los Angeles Lakers officially defeated other teams.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who currently stand at 21-22 and appear unlikely to make the playoffs, will undoubtedly improve significantly this winter. The Lakers had hopes of winning the championship this season, but they are currently far from that objective even though they are hanging onto a play-in spot. They’ve been connected to Alex Caruso and Dejounte Murray for a while now, so it’s time the team took a chance and signed both players, even if it meant depleting their resources.
The Lakers reportedly already have a standing offer for Dejounte, but they still have to beat out other teams to get Alex Caruso. Caruso is a defensive stalwart who requires little upkeep and is signed to a small contract, so the Lakers will face tough competition to
Rui Hachimura, a player who would fit on that roster unlike Russell, is routed by the Lakers while Caruso is acquired by the Bulls via multiple second-round picks and a solid player like D’Angelo Russell. Although Torrey Craig isn’t a huge addition, he has the potential to be a valuable bench forward.
Despite having four attractive players on their roster, it appears that the Chicago Bulls are determined to keep them together in order to attempt to advance to the play-in round. Due to their production, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic are higher-value assets; however, Caruso might be the most alluring piece for the majority of competitors. His salary of $9.46 million is manageable, and he will be the perimeter defensive threat that all competitors need.
At 28 years old, D’Angelo Russell has the potential to be one of the NBA’s best scoring guards. Russell could act as a spark plug to improve the Bulls’ NBA bottom-five offense. Owing to his advantageous contract, the Bulls have two options: either trade him or restore his value.
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The Lakers may be pressured to trade a 2030 or 2028 First-Round Pick for Caruso rather than the handful of seconds they are sending, given his value in the NBA. Therefore, the picks are provisional. However, few teams are able to provide a player of D’Angelo’s caliber, so the Bulls would find this to be an attractive package.
The Hawks Obtain Their Needs
According to reports, the Lakers are holding out for D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and a 2029 first-round pick in exchange for Dejounte Murray, provided that the teams can find Russell a third team. The Hawks receive a complementary frontcourt option in Rui Hachimura in this mock trade, in addition to the highly valuable 2029 first-round pick and the 2023 first-round pick, Jalen Hood-Schifino.
