The Los Angeles Lakers’ surprising trade of Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić was one of the most unexpected moves in recent memory. This could be just the start of a busy few days ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. While the Lakers solved the issue of Davis becoming a free agent next summer, they created a new problem by losing his defense and rebounding in the frontcourt. With rumors swirling, another trade seems likely, and with Davis already gone, no player is safe before the deadline. Here are three Lakers players who might soon find themselves on the move:
1. Rui Hachimura, PF
The Lakers acquired Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards at the 2023 trade deadline, and things initially looked promising. After struggling in Washington, Hachimura averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in the final 33 games and signed a three-year, $51 million extension. While he became a starter and improved his three-point shooting to 42.4%, his defensive struggles have made him less of a standout. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, many NBA executives now see Hachimura as having “neutral value.” Buha noted that “If you want to trade Rui… you’ve got to attach assets,” suggesting Hachimura might not be enough on his own to land a major trade but could still play a significant role with his $17 million salary. The Lakers may look to move him to address bigger needs, and with the front office’s constraints under the new salary cap rules, Hachimura could become expendable.
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2. Markieff Morris, SF
In trades, ancillary players are often needed. As seen with Hachimura, the Lakers had to involve the Utah Jazz as a third team to meet salary cap regulations. If you’re wondering why Markieff Morris and Maxi Kleber came to Los Angeles alongside Doncic, this was part of the reason, and it could result in one of them being traded again if the Lakers make another move soon.
The Mavericks sought this trade to relieve salary cap pressure. Keeping Doncic would have required a $350 million Supermax extension, which would have been the largest contract in NBA history and made future moves more difficult. To avoid this, the Lakers needed to absorb Doncic’s $43 million salary this season and $45.9 million next season without surpassing the second apron. This situation is complicated further by Davis’s $54.7 million salary next season.
Hollinger raised concerns about the impact of a potentially injury-prone pairing of Davis and Kyrie Irving in the competitive Western Conference, but this article focuses on how the Lakers could finalize another deal. Ideally, the Lakers would want to move Kleber’s $11 million salary, but few teams would want to pay that much for a 33-year-old with limited production. On the other hand, Morris has only played in seven games this season, but his $2 million salary, along with the fact that he becomes a free agent next summer, makes him more tolerable. Morris may not last long in his second stint with the Lakers if he’s included in a trade.
3. Cam Reddish, SF
Once a promising lottery pick, Cam Reddish’s career has shifted as he’s struggled to find consistent minutes. Drafted 10th overall in 2019, Reddish played for the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the New York Knicks at the 2022 trade deadline. He was then traded to the Portland Trail Blazers and ultimately signed by the Lakers in 2023.
Reddish had some flashes of potential last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game, with a notable defensive effort. Despite starting earlier this season, Reddish has fallen out of the rotation and recently missed a game due to personal reasons. While he may never reach the stardom he once showed potential for, his affordable contract makes him a likely trade candidate for teams looking for depth. If Reddish can regain consistency, he could play a role elsewhere, similar to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who revitalized his career after being traded from the Pelicans and Jazz to the Timberwolves.
