Brian Windhorst Reveals Blockbuster Lakers Trade To Keep An Eye On
The Los Angeles Lakers had lofty aspirations to improve the roster heading into the 2024-25 NBA season.
Unfortunately, the front office was spurned by the likes of Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan.
If all of those moves fail to materialize, though – ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst says that a blockbuster trade might be in the cards over the next few months.
“Anthony Davis, First-Team All-NBA defense this year … looks awesome,” he said on the ‘Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective’ podcast last week.
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“And even though he’s, like, almost never looked better defensively, you’ve got JJ Redick out there on the record saying that, ‘We need a bruising center. [That’s] the reason they went after Jonas Valanciunas.
“By the way, do we think Jonas Valanciunas will be on offer from the [Washington] Wizards midway through the season? I wouldn’t rule out Jonas Valanciunas eventually ending up a Laker this year.”
“One-hundred percent,” fellow NBA insider Tim Bontemps agreed.
Valanciunas signed a three-year, $30 million contract this summer, but that obviously doesn’t mean he will necessarily remain with the Wizards for the entirety of the deal.
A few weeks ago new Lakers head coach J.J. Redick revealed who the team needed to trade for ASAP.
The question now is whether the front office can deliver. Thus far this summer they haven’t been able to, but if Windhorst is saying acquiring Valanciunas is a possibility for the Lakers, it has to be rooted in something real.
Valanciunas’ strengths would definitely align with what Redick wants.
