The Los Angeles Lakers have officially been eliminated from the NBA Playoffs after suffering a Game 6 loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers looked lost and couldn't keep up with the Suns shooting, especially with Anthony Davis sitting out most of the matchup.
It was a disappointing ending to the season, as Los Angeles struggled with injuries throughout this year. Additionally, Lakers fans everywhere had hoped for a repeat championship performance after the team won the title in The Bubble. Instead, they receive an early exit where the Lakers will get a jump start on the offseason.
Looking back on the Lakers' 2021 performance, it's easy to see that there were only a few standout players on the roster this season. LeBron James, Anthony Davis (when he's on the court), Andre Drummond, and Montrezl Harrell were clearly the best producers on LA's roster. The rest of the team, however, didn't play up to expectations, ultimately leading the Lakers to failure.
The Lakers are a prestigious franchise and often do everything they can to create a championship-caliber roster nearly every year. After receiving an early exit in the postseason, the front office is bound to be aggressive and make some big moves. Luckily for the Lakers, there will be a decent free agent pool, especially if Kawhi Leonard opts out of his current contract.
Los Angeles should be able to make a splash in free agency, but the front office is going to want to make a big trade to put the roster over the top. The team needs another guy who can create his own shot and not be so reliant on LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Someone who can hold their own who has proven it time and time again. There is only one 2021 NBA All-Star the Lakers could trade for who could change everything for their championship hopes in 2022.
Lakers Bradley Beal trade
Re-sign and trade Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavoius Caldwell-Pope, and 2 first-round picks for Bradley Beal.
The Washington Wizards are another team who were bounced out in the first round of this year's playoffs. Since their early exit, speculation has grown amongst the NBA rumor mill that Bradley Beal wants out of Washington after declining to answer a question about his future with the Wizards. If Beal is disgruntled and is genuinely looking for a fresh start, the Los Angeles Lakers should do anything they can to acquire the three-time All-Star.
If Washington trades Beal away, that likely means the Wizards are accepting to go into a rebuild. With that in mind, they'll be more interested in draft picks than anything else. However, to make the trade work, the Lakers will have to trade a few players to match Beal's contract. The Lakers could get away with a trade offer that looks something like this.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Re-sign Dennis Schroder. Trade Schroder, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavoius Caldwell-Pope, and 3 first-round picks (2021, 2025, 2026) in exchange for Bradley Beal.
Washington would be recieving a haul of players and picks that would allow them to focus on rebuilding their roster. Sure, the Lakers would be losing a decent point guard in Schroder, but the Bradley Beal is one of the best players in the league right now. The front office will have a real chance to replace Schroder in free agency, as Kyle Lowry is due to hit the open market. Lowry was a potential trade target for the Lakers before the trade deadline, so the front office could persuade him to join their team for a paycut.
This year, Beal averaged an impressive 31.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. He would give the Lakers a massive boost, especially in three-point shooting which has been a weakspot on this Lakers team. Los Angeles would suddenly have a dangerous lineup that matches up well with any team in the league.
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