NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 deals Lakers fans will be rooting for

4. Adding a young shooter and cap flexibility

Lakers receive: Alex Abrines, Kyle Singler and 2018 second-round pick

Thunder receive: Jordan Clarkson

Another scenario where both teams could see this as a win-win The only way the Lakers would probably say no to this trade is because Kyle Singler is involved, and is making almost five million a year for the next three years which is just absolutely outrageous. They also might say no because the pick they’d receive isn’t a first rounder.

The reason the Lakers would say yes is because they get a young shooter in Alex Abrines for a lot cheaper than J.R. Smith. The Lakers would end up saving almost two million in this trade. They’d probably like it to be more, but unfortunately Kyle Singler’s dead cap value is almost $10 million which is not ideal.

As for the Thunder I’m sure they’d sign off on this in a heartbeat, because they’re in dire need of bench scoring. Clarkson is a poor man’s Lou Williams; he’s a bench guy that can score in bunches and that would be just what the doctor ordered in Oklahoma City. They’d get the bench scoring without giving up too much, and they’d have Clarkson under contract for the next three years which could entice Paul George to come back.

The pick and Abrines might be enough for the Lakers to say yes, but financially this only works with Singler. Which is a bummer