It’s difficult to imagine the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster remaining the same after the organization’s first-round postseason exit.
Lake Show Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk discussed the idea of a valuable forward leaving Luka Doncic and the Lakers to help Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics.
“This is a tricky one,” Rovenchuk wrote Tuesday. “The Boston Celtics are known to desire shedding salary, projecting them as sellers for this offseason.”
“Perhaps with Jayson Tatum missing due to injury, and a vacant forward spot in the starting lineup, the Celtics would view (Rui) Hachimura’s expiring deal as the right fit.”
“They get at least one guaranteed season of dependable production from the Lakers forward in 2025-26. They also get to drop his salary altogether next offseason, should they choose the money-saving route.”
“Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis should both be attractive trade targets to the Lakers for their own individual reasons. This deal would likely need at least a third team to play facilitator, but the connection is warranted.”
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Hachimura is arguably the most underrated Laker. The Gonzaga product isn’t a superstar capable of taking over games down the stretch, but he’s a quality complementary piece for Doncic, LeBron James, and the Lakers.
Whether making wise cuts while playing off the ball or playing to his strengths by elevating for fluid pull-up jump shots, Hachimura produces on the offensive end regularly.
Hachimura, Los Angeles’ fourth-leading scorer, averaged 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season, shooting 50.9% from the field and 41.3% from three.
Still, a Hachimura and Porzingis swap would work for Los Angeles.
While there’s no question Porzingis is an injury-prone center coming off a putrid playoff showing (he averaged 7.7 points per game on 31.6% field goal shooting and 15.4% three-point shooting in 11 postseason contests), his three-level scoring ability and rim protection at the center position would do wonders for the Lake Show.
From Boston’s perspective, the organization would pair Brown with a trustworthy, offensive-minded veteran to help pick up the slack in Tatum’s absence (he suffered an Achilles injury in May).
Both parties could come together to complete a blockbuster deal this summer.
More NBA: Warriors could reunite Stephen Curry with washed-up four-time NBA champion guard, per writer
