Who Should the Lakers Target (Finney-Smith? Johnson? Turner? Murray? Valanciunas?) as Trade Season Begins?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

December 15 is generally seen as the start of NBA Trade Season, because so many players become trade-eligible at that point.

And over the weekend, a couple of trades—including one sending former Laker Dennis Schröder to Golden State—got the ball rolling. Schröder was a name at least some Lakers fans had their eye on, but the Nets not only got a couple of second rounders, but also the expiring deal of DeAnthony Melton. That is a package the Lakers would be hard pressed to match, without overpaying and eliminating the possibility of executing more consequential deals. But it's also not a crazy high price overall, which is encouraging to LA, given their lack of high-appeal trade assets.

So where should they turn their attention?

Is it the backup center, where Jonas Valančiūnas has been on the radar for a while? What about Robert Williams III, on Portland? Does another big make as much sense as a potential package of wings? Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson could be the next two guys on the move for Brooklyn. Could the Lakers make a compelling offer there? Certainly those guys would bring a lot of roster balance and versatility, even while leaving the team short at guard (because presumably D'Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent would both have to go to make the money work).

What about revisiting older targets, like Dejounte Murray, now leading a fast-crumbling Pelicans squad that reportedly is interested in trading Zion Williamson? Myles Turner, if Indiana can't get its act back together? Would they consider moving on from a guy who is just a little older than the timeline that franchise seems to be on?

Keep in mind, the Lakers likely can't make more than one or two moves before they run out of stuff, and even small deals involving second rounders have to be weighed carefully, because those picks would be needed to sweeten the pot in whatever way the Lakers can, should bigger names/better trades become available.

There have been times this season the Lakers looked worth investing in. Other times, they seemed like a team that should be selling, not buying or even standing pat.

Hard decisions are coming, and the Lakers have to hope the (very) early trends in the market prove sustainable.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: LeBron returns to action, but his foot isn't quite right and likely won't be going forward.

SEGMENT 2: Dennis Schröder to Golden State. Helps a rival, but the market could be encouraging.

SEGMENT 3: What other trade targets are there for LA?

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