Lakers Advised to Trade for $120 Million Former All-Star

The Los Angeles Lakers have to pull out at least one trade and they should consider getting an All-Star. According to Andy Bailey from Bleacher Report, Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward makes perfect sense for the team.

“Whatever the motivation, if it’s legitimate, the Lakers should pursue it,” Bailey wrote on June 28, 2022. “Hayward has had a terrible time staying on the floor over the last three years (averaging just 48.3 appearances per season), but his game would actually fit quite well with LeBron’s.

“Over the same stretch, he’s hit 39.6 percent of his three-point attempts. That alone should be a boost to James’ drive-and-kick game, but Hayward has some point forward in him too. That means he could run the offense from the wing when LeBron is off the floor or operate as a secondary creator attacking defenses that the superstar already has in rotation.”

Lakers to trade for the All-Star and pack their roster with talent

Russell Westbrook won’t go anywhere at the moment. Kevin O’Connor from The Ringer discussed the Hornets’ situation with Westbrook.

“The rumor mill is buzzing with moves Charlotte could make this offseason,” O’Connor detailed in his final pre-draft mock. “The Russell Westbrook interest that Marc Stein reported months back is real. Though Westbrook makes little sense as a player next to Ball, he does have an expiring contract and the Hornets could be dropping the bag for restricted free agent Miles Bridges, plus LaMelo Ball’s extension is around the corner. It’s a good time to move some other long-term salary (e.g., Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier) for an expiring deal in Russ.”

The Lakers have a few options at the moment. Pelinka has plenty of time to make the right decision. He will have Westbrook on the roster in the 2021-22 NBA season. The Lakers have a new head coach and Darvin Ham will have to find a solution to the mess in LA. Pelinka has a lot of talented players on the roster, but Ham has to find a way to use them all. It’s a great offseason for the purple and gold.