This proposed trade sends Kevin Porter Jr. to the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that was one of the winners of free agency this offseason, as they managed to retain key free agents such as Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. The team’s priority right now is clearly to build a contender around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

One of the ways the Los Angeles Lakers have managed to get better as a team is to buy low on talented players. For example, the team acquired Rui Hachimura for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks. Perhaps the team could make a similar trade once again: this proposed trade has them adding Kevin Porter Jr. in exchange for three players.

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kevin Porter Jr.

Houston Rockets Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Max Christie, 2024 Second-Round Pick (LAC), 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAC)

This would be an intriguing trade for both teams, and the key here would be the Lakers adding talent at a low price. Kevin Porter Jr. is a player whose time might be running out on the Houston Rockets, given the additions of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Amen Thompson. Here is why both teams have an incentive to make this deal.

The Los Angeles Lakers Add A Solid Scorer For Fringe Rotational Players

It is clear that the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to make a young core of sorts around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Adding Kevin Porter Jr. would give them a talented player that can play a number of positions, and give the team a consistent scoring punch whether that involves coming off the bench or being in the starting lineup.

Last season with the Houston Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr. averaged 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, while shooting 36.6% from 3PT range. Kevin Porter Jr. is clearly a solid scorer, and his shooting will be highly useful next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Porter Jr. has some experience playing off-ball as well, as he has had to play with other ball-dominant stars such as Jalen Green already.

In this trade scenario, the Los Angeles Lakers would have to give up Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Max Christie. Jarred Vanderbilt is a solid player, but his lack of a consistent offensive game hampered the Lakers quite a bit in the playoffs. Jalen Hood-Schifino and Max Christie are both unproven. If the Lakers have the opportunity to make a consolidation trade, they should absolutely do so.

This deal for the Los Angeles Lakers is simply about taking a gamble on the talent that Kevin Porter Jr. possesses. It is a relatively low risk in the sense that the team wouldn’t have to give up much value to acquire him. They would have to give up minor draft compensation to get the deal done, but the upside with Kevin Porter Jr. could be immense.

The Houston Rockets Add Some Defensive-Minded Players

Ime Udoka is a head coach that managed to lead the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022, and his Celtics team was well-known for its defense. It is clear that the team is trying to add good defenders as well, as evidenced by their off-season signings of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. The players that the Houston Rockets would add in this trade clearly fit the mold of what Udoka wants.

Jarred Vanderbilt would be the key player for the Houston Rockets in this deal. The big man averaged 7.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a game during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers last season. Vanderbilt is a multi-positional defender that is comfortable guarding 1 through 5 and is a solid enough finisher at the rim.

Max Christie and Jalen Hood-Schifino are unproven, but both were known as defensive players prior to entering the league. Max Christie is a 6’6″ wing with a 6’9″ wingspan, and he has the physical profile to guard a lot of modern wing players. Jalen Hood-Schifino is an oversized guard, coming in at 6’6″ with a 6’10” wingspan. Both players are solid athletically as well, and with playing time, they could develop into quality players on the Rockets.

Overall for the Houston Rockets, this deal is about moving a player that isn’t necessarily elite defensively, for players that can thrive in Ime Udoka’s system. Kevin Porter Jr. is a far better scorer than the players that the Lakers are sending out: but the Rockets already have enough scoring. The two second-round picks would be a nice bonus on top of what they would already get. The Rockets should move Porter Jr. for players that can defend and hustle, which is precisely what this deal would get them.

This Trade Could Be A Win For Both Teams

This trade could potentially solve a lot of issues for both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets. This move aligns with both the franchises’ goals in the now.

The Los Angeles Lakers would add an extremely talented offensive player in Kevin Porter Jr., who hasn’t quite learned how to play winning basketball yet. Perhaps he could do so under LeBron James’ and Anthony Davis’ leadership, and being on the Lakers can help him take the next step in his development.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets would get a few more prospects that don’t need a high usage rate, play defense, and are willing to fit into roles around the stars on the roster. Elite defensive role players are key to every team, and that is the same for this iteration of the Rockets.

It remains to be seen if the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers will agree to a deal with this framework. This move makes sense from both teams’ perspectives, and we will see what ends up happening in the future.