Nerlens Noel (Photo : Mitchell Leff | Getty Images Sport)
The Lakers could get a step further in their development by upgrading Roy Hibbert to Nerlens Noel.
Noel is younger, more athletic and therefore, more attuned to the NBA's faster game. But how can the Lakers achieve this?
In a chat by Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler, he mentioned that the Lakers "would rather let the veterans play out and find room for the young guys than potentially poison the locker room not playing the vets - some of which are very tradable soon."
There are not a lot of veterans in the Lakers' lineup and most probably, he refers to the three players the Lakers acquired in the summer: Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams and Brandon Bass.
Among the three, Hibbert could be useful as he is a grizzled 7-2 center with extensive playoff experience. A team like the Boston Celtics would want Hibbert since they need a defensive center and they are playing to win.
On the assumption that the Lakers are indeed tanking, they can exchange Hibbert with David Lee. Both players have salaries in the $ 15 million range and also expiring, which means neither team's cap flexibility will be affected. However, since the Celtics would benefit more (they have a logjam at the four spot), they could send one of their hordes of draft picks, most likely a second rounder.
How about Nerlens Noel? The Celts-Lakers trade could end up as a three-way with the Sixers. Noel could be sent to the Lakers in exchange for the Celts 2nd rounder and possibly, D'Angelo Russell. According to SB Nation, the Sixers wanted to draft Russell at no.3, but the Lakers spoiled that when they took him at no.2.
In case the Lakers do not want to trade Russell, the other option is for them to give up their 2016 Draft Pick protection. Currently, the pick is Top 3 protected and the way the Lakers are playing, they stand a good chance to keep the pick.
If the Lakers give up their pick, they will have young core of Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Nerlens Noel. They could also quit tanking and concentrate on developing this core but still won't make the playoffs. Still, that gives them a better position to attract a free agent at the "three" position which Kevin Durant plays.
The Sixers will now have two sure picks in the lottery-their own and the Lakers. For the Celtics, they can test Roy Hibbert as their defensive center and if he doesn't pan out, they can let him walk.
