Lakers trade pitch lands Luka Doncic's ex-teammate for first-round pick and more

Jon Conahan

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Lakers trade pitch lands Luka Doncic's ex-teammate for first-round pick and more image

Some still believe the Los Angeles Lakers will need another center at the trade deadline, and it isn’t the worst idea. 

The Lakers have received some solid play out of Deandre Ayton and even Jaxson Hayes throughout the early stages of the season, but with just 17 games played, the year is still very young. 

It wouldn’t be surprising to see them go out and make a move to shore up the frontcourt moving forward.

One name that’s been linked to the Lakers numerous times is Daniel Gafford, and Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley recently proposed another trade idea that would send him to Los Angeles. That trade would send two players and a draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks:

“Daniel Gafford to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht and a 2031 first-round pick (top-three protected). That reliability is key here, too, because if the Lakers are going to dip into their limited draft-pick collection, they'd need to feel confident about seeing a return on that investment. And they absolutely would with Gafford, who's already handled a starting gig on a previous NBA Finals run steered by Luka Dončić.

“Gafford's low-maintenance, rim-running style would be perfect for the Purple and Gold. Deandre Ayton has had his moments in L.A., but he's less than an ideal stylistic fit. Gafford is the opposite. His willingness to consistently set screens and explode downhill would quickly make him the preferred pick-and-roll partner for Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James,” he wrote.

Trading a 2031 first-round pick would be tough for the Lakers, given their limited assets. Gafford is a good player, but it’s fair to wonder whether he’s worth that price.

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Staff Writer