Los Angeles Times reporter Jovan Buha recently reported that after the Lakers identified JJ Redick as the future head coach, Rob Pelinka officially entered the next step of the offseason, contacting the Hornets to seek a trade for LaMelo Ball, and confirmed to offer a highly competitive trade package.
Whether James renews his contract with the Lakers or not, Pelinka's offseason efforts will be focused on finding a young star to pair with Anthony Davis. Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young are both players who were forcibly linked together when the Lakers were looking for a trade, and the reality is that isn't the case, and Pelinka won't make the best trade offer for the two players. Lakers management is largely unanimous in trading the next five first-round picks and must bring back players who will be the cornerstones of the team for the next decade.
LaMelo Ball's biggest attraction to the Lakers is basketball talent and age. Ball, who entered the league with the third pick in the first round in 2020, has grown into an All-Star point guard over the past four seasons, averaging 23.9 points, 8 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 43.4% from the field and 36% from three-point range. As a 2.01-meter point guard, Ball has a very good view of the court, and the defensive end is also maintained at the middle and upper level, and he is also a tall point guard that the Lakers management likes very much.
In addition, Ball only turned 23 in August this year, and executives such as Jenny Buss, Pelinka and Jesse Bass agree that Ball will be a young star that the Lakers can build a roster around in the next decade, and a key star who can currently compete with Anthony Davis and LeBron James for a championship. "Three-ball" Ball shot 37.4% from three-point range in his career, averaged 7.6 shots per game, and has the ability to open up offensive space, and can realize Redick's passing ability to let James play off-ball offense.
"The Lakers have two options internally, either to make modest changes to the roster with mid-level contracts and upgrade role players alongside James and Davis, or to make a big trade and bring in a third All-Star." Jovan Buha said, "The consensus among the Lakers hierarchy is to go all out to get a deal for LaMelo Ball. ”
Pelinka offers the Hornets an offer that they can't refuse, including Hachimura, Jalen Schifino, a 2024 first-round pick with the 17th pick, a 2029 first-round unprotected pick, and a 2030 first-round protected pick, plus a 2026 and 2029 first-round pick swap, plus 2027 and 2030 second-round picks. In other words, the Lakers are willing to send seven first-round picks in order to get Ball.
"The Hornets have good reason to accept the Lakers' offer, and Jeff Peterson taking Kupchak's position as president is changing the way the Hornets are building." "The Hornets are putting Brandon Miller and Mark Williams as the centerpiece of their rebuild, getting rid of Ball's $205 million max contract for the next five years," Busha said. "Considering Ball's injury history, a lot of teams won't be interested in trading Ball, and it's hard to find a better price than the Lakers. Ball has a serious ankle problem, having missed a total of 58 games over the past two seasons.
The Lakers weren't worried about Ball's injury, and Curry suffered a serious ankle injury early in his career, eventually becoming one of the greatest legends of all time. Davis has also endured a variety of injuries, also led the Lakers to championship wins, and has been playing at his best this season, and there is reason to believe that young Ball will have a healthy and exciting future with the Lakers. Ball's shooting, vision, fast-break ability, and the expected effect with James and Davis are enough to make the Lakers ignore injury risks.