The Los Angeles Lakers fell short of the championship in the playoffs this year, getting eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. They have a duo that is proven to be championship-caliber in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, so perhaps one big-time move for a difference-maker can help them get back on top and win at the highest level once again.
This article will discuss a trade scenario that would send Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton to the Los Angeles Lakers. The team would have to send out multiple role players to complete this deal.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Deandre Ayton
Phoenix Suns Receive: Rui Hachimura (Sign-And-Trade), Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba, No. 17 Pick
This trade could potentially benefit both teams involved and would notably get the Los Angeles Lakers a quality frontcourt partner for Anthony Davis. Here is why both the Lakers and the Suns should consider making this deal.
The Los Angeles Lakers Lean Into Size And Athleticism
The Los Angeles Lakers won the championship in 2020 due to their physicality, athleticism, and defense. We saw the team have some success against the Denver Nuggets by playing a frontcourt of Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard, and to get past the Nuggets again, they might have to take a similar approach. While a lot of teams focus on going small and spacing the floor, the Lakers could get ahead of the opposition by doing the opposite and focusing on their own strengths.
Deandre Ayton is a quality center that has shown he can produce in the regular season, averaging 18.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 1.7 APG. He can provide another interior presence next to Anthony Davis and is another scorer that can take some offensive pressure off the Lakers’ stars. Ayton would definitely thrive with LeBron James, who has made lesser centers look amazing with his playmaking. A change of scenery could be good for Deandre Ayton overall, and perhaps he can reach his potential as a former No. 1 pick with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ultimately, adding Deandre Ayton will allow the Lakers to lean in on size, rebounding, and interior defense. The team’s goal this offseason was clearly to shut off the rim, and Ayton clearly helps in that regard. He is also athletic enough to keep up with slower perimeter players. At the end of the day, talent is what usually helps teams win championships, and adding Ayton would increase the Lakers’ talent level. It would definitely be a risk to acquire him, but risks are how championship teams are made.
The Phoenix Suns Get A Good Package For Deandre Ayton And Add Some Depth
One of the reasons that the Phoenix Suns ended up getting defeated by the Denver Nuggets in the second round this year is their lack of depth options and playoff-caliber role players. Adding depth should be the first priority for the Phoenix Suns this offseason. The best way for them to do that would be by trading Deandre Ayton, as he is their most valuable player beyond Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The team will reportedly be aggressive in trying to move the center as well.
With this deal, the Phoenix Suns would be getting three decent role players from the Los Angeles Lakers. The main draw here would obviously be Rui Hachimura. He is a four-position defender with fantastic physical tools and has shown that he can hit big shots and perform well offensively in the playoffs. He would potentially have a bigger role offensively as well. With Chris Paul’s decline and Deandre Ayton getting traded, he projects to be the No. 3 option on the team.
Malik Beasley is a quality 3PT shooter that knows how to play off the ball, and he would end up being a solid sixth man for the Phoenix Suns. Every championship team needs a quality offensive player coming off the bench who can change the tide by heating up and scoring quickly. Mo Bamba would be an immediate center position replacement for Deandre Ayton. Though Bamba clearly isn’t as good as Ayton, he is still a solid player that can give decent minutes. He also provides another dimension for the team offensively with his 3PT shooting ability. On top of the role players, the Suns would also get the No. 17 pick, which they could use to draft a decent prospect.
This trade would get the Phoenix Suns three rotational players that will be better depth options than what they have right now. That number could potentially rise to four if they get the No. 17 pick right. Overall, this is a solid trade that helps the Phoenix Suns balance their roster and build a more complete team around their stars.
This Trade Improves The Rosters For Both The Lakers And The Suns
For the Los Angeles Lakers, this trade is about increasing their talent level overall and getting a difference-maker. Deandre Ayton would clearly make them a better team and would give them the s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 set needed to compete with the best teams in the Western Conference. Deandre Ayton is a player that can be the difference-maker for the Lakers, and give them an injection of youth and athleticism.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are top-heavy right now, and moving one of their players for depth could help them round out the roster around their stars. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant can’t do everything by themselves, and adding role players that can fill roles as starters or off the bench will be crucial to the duo finding championship success.
It will be interesting if the two teams would consider a deal like this in the future. It would have to happen after the 2023 NBA Draft to bypass the Stepien rule. This could be a deal that makes both teams better and improve their respective rosters, and it’ll be interesting to see how the two franchises approach the offseason.
