Lakers Could Trade for ‘Dream’ Big Man to Pair With Luka Doncic

This week, an NBA general manager told Heavy Sports that it’s possible that the a pair of high-profile star big men could be on the move this summer–or in the near future, at least–if their current teams don’t have especially good postseason performances. And at least one of those could be a shrewd Lakers trade target.

There is a presumption among many around the league that when L.A. gets hold of a significant pile of cap space this offseason, the Lakers could use it first to try to pry away free agents from other teams, including Walker Kessler from the Jazz. Kessler will be a restricted free agent, but an aggressive offer could create havoc with Utah’s books–and the Lakers could be prepared with an aggressive offer.

But there is also a belief that the Lakers will entertain trade talks before any move is made for free agents, and that, with their more than $40 million in cap space, they could be a landing spot for teams seeking to unload bloated contracts–and if those contracts belong to talented young big men, the Lakers would have draft picks up to be dealt.

---

Evan Mobley Would Be of Significant Interest to Lakers

That’s where the report about two potential big men on the block should get some notice from the Lakers. The two players–Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers–would be of significant interest to the Lakers.

Adebayo, most acknowledge, is unlikely to be traded away from Miami. And in Cleveland, the perception is that a poor Cavs showing in the playoffs will result in a potential Jarett Allen trade. But that’s not necessarily the case–the Cavs would save more financially and fill their roles more reliably by trading away Mobley and keeping Allen as a defensive-minded rim-runner.

Allen is signed for $30 million per year over the next three years. The Cavs can handle that contract while also keeping stars James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, who need new deals, too, happy.

---

Lakers Hopeful Evan Mobley Hits Trade Block

The GM said that teams–including the Lakers–will be pleasantly surprised if the Heat or Cavaliers put their bigs on the market. But with the way the luxury-tax aprons hit teams now, there might be no choice.

Again, the Heat have repeatedly rejected trade inquiries on Adebayo, despite the fact that he has barely improved in his career with the team throughout his career. But the Cavs, if they do not go to the Finals this year–or at least for the East finals–are expected to be open to big-time changes.

The aprons are just too restrictive to accommodate non-scorers making Top 20 money, which is where the Cavs and Heat are with their star players.

“That’s the thing you run into,” the GM said. “The NBA is very top-heavy in how you build your team. It’s hard to build a roster where the top of the payroll is not a guy who is getting 25 points a game. A team like Cleveland, they’re in the apron, they can’t afford to stay there. If the season unravels for them a little here, they have some hard questions, and they’d have t consider (trading Mobley).

“Miami has had Bam a long time, he is Pat’s (Riley) guy, and Pat’s not going to trade him. He’s not going to want to. But they probably should have traded him a year ago. They’re both sort of stunted growth players.”

---

‘That Is the Dream’

Presumably, getting into an offense with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (assuming LeBron James leaves and Reaves stays put) would help a player like Mobley offensively. Meanwhile, defensively, the Lakers would reap a massive benefit.

But the Lakers would have to pay. Mobley, a Southern California guy, is in the first year of a five-year, $270 million contract with the Cavs, and fits nicely with the Doncic timeline. As the GM said, “Getting a guy like him, at age 24, and putting him with Luka, that is the dream.”

 

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney