NBA free agency: 3 players the Lakers can add to convince LeBron not to retire
1. Trae Young
Trae Young would be a home run acquisition for the Lakers. Young spent time courtside during the Lakers’ playoffs run and he’s a Klutch Sports client, so there is a baked-in connection to James. The Hawks were eliminated in the first round after a disappointing regular season. Young has already been linked to the Lakers and the buzz around him as a potential trade candidate will only get louder as the summer progresses.
The logistics of a Young trade are tricky. He’s due $40 million next season, so it would take savvy maneuvering on the part of Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office. LA’s trade assets are limited by the wave of upcoming free agents. Meanwhile, it would take significant trade capital on top of whatever the Lakers can offer salary-wise to tempt the Hawks into a Young trade.
Young has been a lightning rod for debate all season. The Hawks fired their head coach in part because of his fractured relationship with Young, and it’s fair to question Young’s upside as the No. 1 player on a contender due to his defensive limitations. He’s an easy target for smart offenses in the playoffs.
That said, Young would share playmaking duties with LeBron, he would be forced to diversify his offensive approach, and he would have one of the best defensive backstops in the NBA supporting him in Anthony Davis. It’s easy to envision Young contributing to a winner in that context. Plus, the NBA offseason is always full of overreactions. Few NBA players can warp a defense like Young; his dribbling craft and pull-up shooting range are next-level. He would be a dream co-star for LeBron and Davis at this stage in their respective careers. Not long ago, Young led the Hawks to a conference finals appearance. His résumé at 24 years old is stacked.
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