Insider Gives Key Update on Lakers Chances of Trading for Dame Lillard

The Los Angeles Lakers are checking out their options and it looks like the team may take a shot and trade for Dame Lillard. There have been too many rumors related to Lillard’s potential departure from the Portland Trail Blazers. As you may be guessing, the Lakers are considered a good landing spot for the top player.

Colin Cowherd from Fox Sports has a trade proposal. According to him, the Lakers should send Anthony Davis to Portland. Chris Broussard shut down the possibility.

“Look, if I’m Portland, oh yes, let’s do it now,” Broussard explained during the July 2nd edition of The Herd. “I get you there. It’s the other side. Who represents Anthony Davis? We both know, Rich Paul. Rich just got him out of New Orleans a few years ago. Unless Anthony Davis has this desire to be in Portland and play in Portland for the next five years, he’s not going there. Rich Paul’s not sending him to Portland. So, that’s not happening.

“Now, if you asked me, would I do it if I’m the Lakers, like if Rich Paul is not in the picture? I would not do it right now. If I were the Lakers, I give it one more year with A.D. because we know that A.D. and LeBron can win a title assuming LeBron’s himself.”

The Lakers have to add some of their talented young players to the trade deal for Dame Lillard

Cowherd is an optimist about the potential deal for Lillard. He went further to suggest that LeBron has an “out” with AD. He believes that Dame’s ability to handle the ball would help LeBron cut his minutes. AD struggled with his injuries and LA has the perfect excuse to get rid of him despite his link to Klutch Sports.

How will the Lakers handle this? Eric Pincus from Bleacher Report said there is hope LA may get Dame through a sign-and-trade with Talen Horton-Tucker on the trade block.

“If the Blazers are a believer, the Lakers could have some traction,” Pincus explained. “Horton-Tucker can earn up to about $33-$46 million over three or four years via sign-and-trade. Portland would have a team salary limit at roughly $143 million for the 2021-22 season, which should not be an issue. The Lakers would need to include additional salary, starting with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma.”

Players like Montrezl Harrell and Alfonzo McKinnie may round out a deal, especially if Portland is willing to throw in center Jusuf Nurkic.