3 reasons why the Lakers probably probably won’t trade for Damian Lillard

1. The Lakers have no draft picks to give

Not having player assets to trade wouldn’t be such a big issue for Los Angeles if they had a surplus of draft picks to offer up instead. They don’t.

When they made the move for Anthony Davis, the Lakers sent their 2022 and 2024 first-round selections to the New Orleans Pelicans, along with swap rights for 2023. While other teams will be able to throw in first-rounders to sweeten the pot, LA doesn’t control a first-round selection after the coming draft until 2025 at the earliest.

Part of trading Damian Lillard is initiating a rebuild. Draft picks will be part of the trade expectation.

So basically, the Lakers can’t make the best personnel offering and they can’t make the best draft offering. They have no legs to stand on.

Sure, it would be loads of fun to see Lillard finally surrounded by the star power LA can offer him. He’s had to carry the Blazers by himself so often it’s a wonder he’s still standing. It just doesn’t make any sense for him to make that move or for Portland to sanction it.

The Lakers will have to hope Lillard lands somewhere in the Eastern Conference, because the worst outcome would be him strengthening one of the other would-be powers in the West.