SO SAD: This Is The End Of The Journey Am Done I Won’t Play Again “Lauri Markkanen.” Says As He Depart In The…
“You take [the 2029 first-rounder], you take [the 2031 first-rounder], you attach some salary, we’re talking Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Austin Reaves…maybe [D’Angelo Russell] if he picks up his player option, I’m not expecting him to though. Gabe Vincent, anybody who’s under contract, you attach those salaries to the picks, trade them for a third star.”
Lane later added: “Maybe it’s Trae Young, maybe it’s Dejounte Murray, maybe it’s Donovan Mitchell, maybe it’s Lauri Markkanen. We don’t know. All of that is going to be a little more clear as we get closer to draft night in June.”
Ultimately, the Lakers obviously need to shake things up around LeBron James and Anthony Davis and take advantage of that window while they still can. James is an ageless wonder, still dominating as his 40th birthday nears in December. Davis just made an All-NBA team for the first time since 2020.
The Lakers can add more depth and hope for the best. Or, they can shoot for that third star to help them out, especially if one of both is lost due to injury during the season. Markkanen is ultimately a solid option to consider, given his size, scoring ability and age. He also could demand less in a trade than bigger names like Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young should they be made available in a deal.
“They’ll listen,” the exec told Deveney. “They always listen. Danny’s reputation is overblown. He wants a championship team, he wants to do what Sam Presti has done in Oklahoma City. He knows he is a long way off still. They’ll be tough and the price will be high but that’s how it should be.”
