Lakers seek defensive improvement in potential trade ideas with the Trail Blazers

According to F/W contributor Sidante Gupta, US sports media. The Lakers have been one of the most interesting teams in the offseason. After being described as one of the most active teams in the trade discussion, the Purple and Gold Army has so far been very hesitant to pull the trigger for any potential moves. The Lakers add some interesting players to their team. Signing Jack Laravia helped the Purple and Gold Legion strengthen their wing depth. Meanwhile, Hayes' re-signing helped the Lakers consolidate their frontcourt rotation.

The most important signing so far is Ayton's joining to meet their demand for the starting big man. With a capable center in the rotation, the Lakers achieved one of their main goals in the offseason, but the process of roster building can't end there. As the demand for signing reliable wing players increases, the Purple and Gold Army continues to find the right candidates. With this in mind, we propose a potential trade idea that can significantly improve the Lakers’ wing depth while also improving their defensive abilities.

Lakers get: Grant, Timble

Trail Blazers get: Hachimura, Vincent, Van Debiao, 2032 second round draft picks

Grant and Timble will have a huge impact on the Lakers' wing depth. Although Hachimura Shira and Van Debiao's departure would be unfortunate, Grant and Timble could be arguably more effective defenders overall. In this case, Grant will effectively play Hachimura Shirato in the starting lineup, in many ways, and perhaps even surpass him.

Last season, the Trail Blazers forward averaged 14.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, shooting 37.3% from the field and 36.5% from outside the three-point line. This aspect of the forward may be a problem with the Purple and Gold Legion. But if he can stay healthy for quite some time in the season, the Lakers could have a versatile defensive player who is perfectly capable of creating shots for himself.

Dibuel's addition is more important to improve the team's bench strength. The departure of the electric fan leads to the need for experienced defenders on the outside, and the Australians are fully in line with the requirements. He was twice selected to the All-Defensive Team in the early stages of his career. Although health issues have been plaguing him since then, the forward is still a capable presence on the roster. Tibur played in 15 games last season, averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. These numbers may not inspire much, but his average 2.2 steals per game represents a valuable defensive advantage. The 27-year-old Trail Blazers forward is still able to make a significant contribution to the Lakers’ defense, despite limited playing time.

However, under the situation where James puts pressure on the management, such a lineup can maintain a good competitive level at the moment, and continue to strive for the championship while maintaining healthy in the new season, and keep James in Los Angeles as much as possible. Even though the Lakers have re-established Doncic as the team's future core, it is a wise choice for the moment to build a championship lineup around the East and James combination before James has completely delegated power. What do you think?