The Los Angeles Lakers might benefit from some changes.
Less than halfway through the season, they have already made numerous changes to the starting lineup outside of what injuries have required. This is a result of their season being so uneven. The injuries have only raised further questions.
Their biggest question may be just how big of a move to make, and there is a case to be made for another smaller deal such as those they made at last season’s deadline.
On the “Hoops Tonight” podcast on December 26, Jovan Buha of The Athletic stated, “Maybe you… go for Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith.” The Lakers have been interested in those two players since the last trade deadline and offseason. I am aware that they would be interested in hiring those two men.
Finney-Smith, 30, is shooting 44.8% on 5.5 three-pointers a game, which is a career-high percentage. He is also averaging 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
The Nets traded Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks for Finney-Smith at the trade deadline the previous season. He is now in the second year of a $55.5 million contract with a player option for $15.4 million in the playoffs. The deal is set to last for four years.
Prior to the 2022–23 season, Brooklyn acquired O’Neale in a deal that required them to give the Utah Jazz a first-round pick in exchange for the swingman.
For the season, O’Neale is averaging 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. As of December 27, he is shooting 39.3% better from distance than he is from the field overall. O’Neale is in the latter year of a $36 million, four-year contract.
“I believe that if you could bring both of those guys in, finding at least one of those [3-and-D] guys, if not a couple, would still be an overall upgrade to the rotation,” Buha said.
The Lakers may encounter a problem with the Nets’ purported asking price.
On November 29, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype stated, “Rival executives expect the Nets to continue to have a high asking price worth the equivalent of two first-round picks if they trade him.” Scotto expressed optimism that the asking price will decline closer to the trade deadline.
“According to a few executives who spoke with HoopsHype, Brooklyn would prefer to give O’Neale, an upcoming unrestricted free agent, a protected first-round pick.”
The Lakers’ draft capital is constrained. Maybe they have the talent to make up for it.
Adding Finney-Smith and O’Neale — whose contracts are worth a combined $91 million in total and $23.4 million this season — could help the Lakers shave about $2.8 million in actual salary from the ledger this year.
Maybe Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent, the (so far unsuccessful) free agency acquisition, are sufficient with choices.
Lakers receive:
Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith, and
Gabe Vincent, a first-round selection in 2030
When Hachimura is replaced by Finney-Smith or O’Neale, three-point shooting is exchanged for size and strength. Before the trade deadline in the previous season, the Lakers acquired Hachimura from the Washington Wizards.
Swapping out Hachimura for Finney-Smith or O’Neale trades size and strength for three-point shooting. The Lakers acquired Hachimura from the Washington Wizards before the deadline last season.
He re-signed on a three-year, $51 million contract in free agency this past offseason.
The Lakers signed Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract this past summer, too. He has missed all but five games this season. Moving on so soon could be risky.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, concentrating on the Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Chicago Bulls. Since 2016, he has written on the NBA and NFL for FanSided, Last Word on Sports, and Clocker Sports, among other publications. Illinois’ Villa Park is home to him. Josh’s handle on Instagram and Twitter is @JoshGBuck. Additional details regarding Josh Buckhalter
