Paul George and Jimmy Butler (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers could use their top-pick to trade for a superstar who could instantly bring the franchise back to its glorious days.
After another dismal season that saw the Lakers finish with the worst regular season record in franchise history, LA will gets a bit of redemption by having the chance to acquire one of the best prospects in the 2016 NBA draft. The Lakers have a 19.9 percent chance to keep their top-three protected pick, which could mean drafting LSU's Ben Simmons, Duke's Brandon Ingram, or Maccabi Tel Aviv's Dragan Bender.
However, there are speculations the Lakers could attempt to deal their top-three pick if they hit the jackpot in the draft lottery next week. While there is no confirmation yet whether the Lakers are planning on such a move, many believe the Purple and Gold could use their potentially prized pick to trade for superstars like Paul George and Jimmy Butler.
"I've been told by 2 separate sources -- even if the Lakers get the No. 1 pick, they're trading it." - @ColinCowherdhttps://t.co/kHG6mV9TPP
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 3, 2016
Harrison Faigen of SB Nation's Silver Screen & Roll chronicled a piece that gathered interesting trade suggestions from the site's other writers about the possible stars the Lakers could pursue if they trade their top-three pick. The most intriguing idea came from Chinmay Vaidya, who described George and Butler as trade targets that "make the most sense" come LA shop their pick in the offseason.
"Paul George or Jimmy Butler make the most sense," Vaidya said.
"Both are under long-term contracts and with the salary cap going up, those contracts will look really nice. Trading for George will likely take the draft pick, a future first-rounder and one of the Russell/Clarkson/Randle trio. Take out the future first-rounder and you have Butler's trade value."
It is no secret that trading for a superstar, who the Lakers need if they wish to turn thing around immediately, would cost the 16-time NBA champs their core of young talents, particularly any between D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle or Jordan Clarkson. While all three youngsters have the potential to be the face of the franchise, it would probably take them a long-time before they could carry the Lakers for a 17th NBA title.
Trading for either George or Butler, who are already proven stars, would not only change the dynamic of the Lakers team, but could also be factors to luring other veteran free agents to play for LA. The Lakers have not been a free agent-friendly destination in the past two seasons, but with the team having a massive amount of cap space, along with the potential acquisition of either George or Butler, could make Los Angeles once again attractive to free agents.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has laughed off the idea of the team trading their top-pick for veteran talents. But it is also worth noting that Kupchak was seemingly open to trading their pick for quality players around the league.
"If you get a top-three pick ... not only does it get you the ability to take a player that is considered top-three in the world, you have the ability to move the pick," Kupchak said, reports Basketball Insiders. "I think there are some quality players that can be starters or All-Stars in this league, [and] that goes beyond two players."
The mere fact that the Lakers always try their best to be relevant in the league means LA would not resort into rebuilding full-scale that could take many years before getting any quality results. Trading the pick for a superstar appears the best way for the Lakers to become contenders again, but that remains a vague possibility until the ping pong balls decide LA's future in the 2016 NBA draft.
