The Los Angeles Lakers' big move this offseason has been bringing in former No. 1 overall pick, DeAndre Ayton to fill out their starting five.
This move has done exactly that, giving them a strong starting five, but when you look at the bench, you might see a few issues.
One of their other signings has been Jake LaRavia, a 6’7 wing who fits in nicely for their bench unit. The missing piece is a guard off the bench, who can come in and be a sparkplug when the superstars are having their off night.
YouTuber SROS proposed a hypothetical trade that solves this issue and is also beneficial for the other team involved.
It is a simple swap of Rui Hachimura for Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk.
The one thing the Lakers don’t necessarily need anymore is a guy like Hachimura, and the Kings could benefit from a new face.
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Monk played for the Lakers during the 2021-2022 season and has since seen an increased role with the Kings, averaging 17.2 points per game in his first year as a usual starter.
With the exit of his beloved teammate De’Aaron Fox, he could enjoy being shipped out of Sacramento. This could also free up playing time for their younger guards like Keon Ellis and Devin Carter, beginning their development earlier than expected.
As stated previously, the Lakers' backup guard unit consists of Gabe Vincent and Jordan Goodwin, something that can definitely be improved on.
Hachimura’s trade value could be at an all-time high, and although trading with an in-conference team is always difficult, this swap could be beneficial for both teams.
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