Lakers GM Rob Pelinka announced 5 blockbuster contracts signed

The Los Angeles Lakers have to pull off a major trade this offseason. After losing in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Lakers have to go all-in to prove to LeBron James that he can compete for a championship in Los Angeles.

General manager Rob Pelinka has three first-round picks he can trade this summer. These picks plus Austin Reaves should get the Lakers on plenty of negotiating tables. Here are five players who should be the main target for the Lakers in the offseason using this package.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cleveland Cavaliers star should be the number-one player on the Lakers’ wish list this summer. The 27-year-old All-Star has one more year left on his contract and whatever team trades for him would have to give him a contract extension. Considering that Donovan Mitchell is a perfect fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers should be willing to do that for the dynamic scorer.

Mitchell was traded to the Cavs two seasons ago. Cleveland failed to reach the heights they were hoping for, winning only one playoff series in two years. On an individual level, however, Mitchell was everything they hoped for as he averaged 27.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in 123 appearances.

There is too much smoke in Cleveland about a Donovan Mitchell trade. He seemingly doesn’t want to be there long-term, opening the door for the Cavs to move on from him now to acquire assets in return. If the three first-round picks the Lakers can offer them is enough for Cleveland, they shouldn’t hesitate to do that for Spida.

Trae Young

If Donovan Mitchell is not an option, then No. 2 on the list for the Lakers should be Trae Young.

The Atlanta Hawks are likely having a firesale this summer considering the fact that they landed the first-overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Rebuilding seems inevitable in Atlanta and the player who can net them the most value is Trae Young.

The three-time All-Star is always criticized for his lack of defensive intensity and physicality. It is true that he can be a tough fit due to his weaknesses. However, the Lakers have the ability to cover for Young’s shortcomings while benefitting immensely from his strengths.

Trae Young is an elite passer and pick-and-roll operator. For the regular season, he can carry the offensive load, letting LeBron James take a backseat. Young is more than capable of running an elite offense with his scoring and passing. When needed, he can be an off-ball option thanks to his ability to space the floor with his shooting.

Anthony Davis covering for Young on the defensive end, while being an excellent pick-and-roll partner to him on the other side of the ball makes Young a fascinating fit in Los Angeles.

Dejounte Murray

If the Lakers’ offer for Trae Young is beaten, they can go back to the drawing board. We already know that they were interested in the other Atlanta Hawks All-Star as they tried to trade for him at the trade deadline.

Dejounte Murray is not the same caliber of player Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young are, but he would still be the third-best player on this Lakers team and provide more two-way impact than both of those players.

Plus, not only would he be more easily acquirable, but he would also be under team control for longer. At age 27, Murray has three more seasons on his deal with an average of $27.5 million per year. This is less than what the Lakers would have to pay Mitchell or Young. Murray at that value is a team-friendly contract and he could easily be tradeable again if the Lakers were to go a different path.

Murray was a one-time All-Star when he was with the San Antonio Spurs. Ever since he was traded to the Hawks, he hasn’t been able to play at that level. His fit with Trae Young has always been questionable and Atlanta severely disappointed since making the trade to acquire him. He still put up 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in the 2023-24 season regardless.

The Lakers could potentially trade for him using two of their three first-rounders, saving the other one for an upgrade in a different position.

Darius Garland

The dynamic between Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland is similar to the one between Trae Young and Dejounte Murray in Atlanta.

Mitchell and Garland similarly disappointed in Cleveland and just like the Trae-Murray pairing, one of the two All-Star guards has to go this offseason. The two seasons Mitchell and Garland played together for the Cavs proved that the backcourt duo isn’t feasible for the postseason. They just have too many defensive and physical shortcomings.

Considering that Mitchell is a better player, the Cavs could perhaps decide to move on from Darius Garland instead. They could prefer to reload around Mitchell if he were to sign a long-term contract extension there.

After Mitchell arrived in Cleveland, Garland wasn’t able to take his game to the next level. He was an All-Star in the 2021-22 season but didn’t sniff that level in the past two years, posting an underwhelming 18 points and 6.5 assists per game last season.

However, he is only 24 years old and has the skill set that fits perfectly around LeBron and Davis. The former Vanderbilt standout can pass, shoot, and run the pick-and-roll. He has the ability to get inside the paint and finish in traffic. He can carry a significant offensive load and organize the offense, something the Lakers desperately missed last season. This would help LeBron James save his energy for the playoffs.

Garland is due $36 million for next season. The Lakers would have to trade at least Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura along with draft capital. If the players mentioned above are not in the cards, Garland is the next best thing.

Brandon Ingram

This is not as good of a fit as the other names on this list. Brandon Ingram is not a great off-ball player as he likes to hold the ball, get to his spots, and rise up for mid-rangers. He can obviously hit three-pointers but he doesn’t have the off-ball gravity the previous names on this list have. This makes him a little trickier to fit around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Whether the Lakers should try to bring Brandon Ingram back to Los Angeles depends on what it would require to trade for him. Ingram has one more season left on his contract and he is due $36 million for the 2024-25 season.

The Lakers can match salaries easily using Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves. Whether they have to give multiple first-round picks in addition will determine whether the deal is worth it because the Lakers would also theoretically have to give Ingram a long-term contract extension after bringing him in.

The Pelicans are surely looking to make a big trade this summer. CJ McCollum and Ingram are the two most obvious candidates to be moved. Ingram, who was the second-overall pick of the Lakers in the 2016 NBA Draft and spent the first three seasons of his career in LA, could potentially return as a much more complete player and an All-Star.