'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When LeBron James announced that he was going to sign with the LA Lakers, he knew that it was a project that would not bring instant success. The franchise have had a losing record for five consecutive years, and LeBron is arguably the only All-Star on the entire roster.
The Lakers have performed better than many expected, recording impressive recent wins against the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat. The team have won seven of their last 10 games, and look as though they will make the playoffs.
However, the team has been incredibly reliant on LeBron throughout the early part of the season.
If the Lakers want to make a deep run in the playoffs, they will need to make trades this season, rather than wait until the 2019 free agency. So here are the three players that the LA Lakers could trade, in order to bring in new recruits that could fuel them for the remainder of the season.
#3 Michael Beasley
The Lakers signed Beasley to a one-year, $3.5 million contract back in July. LeBron reportedly wanted the franchise to sign the player, having got impressed by Beasley when they teamed up in Miami.
But Beasley has missed most of the season through personal issues, and is averaging just 5 minutes per game in his 4 appearances.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a resurgent season in New York last year, so he will still have some trade value. With the small forwards seemingly not in the Lakers rotation, the franchise will probably look to move him on from the Purple and Gold.
#2 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Caldwell-Pope is one of the Lakers' best reserves, and has averaged 19.7 minutes per game from the bench this season. However, the 25-year-old is being paid a starter's salary; he will earn $12 million dollars this year.
The shooting guard would be a starter on most NBA teams, and there is reportedly interest from the Philadelphia 76ers. With Caldwell-Pope out of contract at the end of the season, the Lakers should trade him now so that they get something in return.
#1 Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball is by no means a bad player. However, he seems to have no place in the Lakers future.
LeBron has dominated the ball, and this has reduced Ball's role to that of a catch and shoot player. Rajon Rondo's addition to the Lakers has also reduced the 21-year-old's game time, and there is even talk of the Lakers signing a new point guard in 2019.
Other teams will be interested in acquiring Ball, and the youngster has vastly improved his shooting since his first off-season. He simply doesn't fit in with the Lakers, and Magic Johnson should take the valuable assets that teams would trade for the 2017 number 2 draft pick.
