The Los Angeles Lakers did well considering their putrid start to the season, as they made it to the Western Conference Finals but lost at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. No doubt, despite some major positives, the Lakers franchise and LeBron James, in particular, are forced to rethink their future because the Nuggets proved to be on an entirely different level. The Lakers were off to a putrid start to the year with Russell Westbrook still on the team, but Rob Pelinka saved their season by trading Westbrook and acquiring massively important pieces, including D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura, while Austin Reaves took a bigger role.
Even with the roster reinforcements, the Lakers were not ready to make the NBA Finals, and it was obvious the Denver Nuggets was the better team. LeBron James did his best all year long, breaking the all-time scoring record in the regular season and averaging 23.5 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 6.3 APG in the playoffs. However, James could not do it as the best player on his team anymore and he needs reinforcements that are not named Anthony Davis. With Davis’ future in doubt, the Lakers need to act swiftly and build a superteam this summer.
No doubt, LeBron James has to consider his future with the Lakers. LeBron James made some very interesting comments during his postgame interview, possibly hinting at what his future holds in terms of his basketball career as soon as the playoffs ended. Retirement could be an option for The King, and frustration could be a big part of the spreading rumors this could be the end for the all-time scoring leader. However, this could be a ploy by The King to force the Lakers to create a superteam for the last time in James’ career.
LeBron has had multiple superteams over his career, including his stints with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, while some consider the 2020 Lakers being a superteam due to the presence of a prime and healthy Anthony Davis. This summer, the Lakers have a chance to give LeBron James one final superteam of his career, and it involves the addition of other All-Stars. The priority for the Lakers is to add more star power by any means while also trying to retain most of their depth.
With the recent news coming out about Chris Paul’s tenure with Phoenix likely ending, the Lakers can make a major move to bring the future Hall of Fame point guard on board. Not to mention, the presence of Zach LaVine on the Chicago Bulls could be a situation the Lakers can take advantage of because the Bulls missed the playoffs after a torrid season. Los Angeles has major plans this offseason to entertain with the hopes of winning a championship next season. Without further ado, here is the plan for the Lakers to create a superteam this summer.
Chris Paul Finally Signs With The Lakers
Credit: Fadeaway World
The very first step for the Los Angeles Lakers to create a superteam is to improve and finalize their point guard situation by acquiring Chris Paul. Paul has made 12 All-Star Team appearances, and even at age 38, he can still be effective offensively after posting 13.9 PPG and 8.9 APG this season. Paul will always deal with injuries in postseason games that matter most, as evidenced by the 2018 Western Conference Finals with the Houston Rockets and this year’s playoffs with the Phoenix Suns. Regardless, Paul would be a massive upgrade at the point guard spot for the Lakers, and there is no doubt about that. D’Angelo Russell is a talented scorer, but he is nowhere near Paul’s level as a playmaker, and Dennis Schroder is better suited as a 6th man.
At this stage of his career, Chris Paul is a veteran point guard who has proven himself to be one of the best in the league. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge that he can bring to any team, and the Lakers would be no exception. With his leadership and playmaking abilities, he could help the Lakers become a more cohesive and effective team. Secondly, the Lakers are in need of a pure point guard to facilitate the offense, as D’Angelo Russell is a score-first player, and James needs help in that regard.
Chris Paul would be a perfect fit for the team, as he is a s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed ball-handler and passer who can create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He would also be able to take some of the pressure off of LeBron James, who has been playing point guard for the Lakers in recent years. No doubt, the Lakers have a strong chance of winning a championship next season, and Chris Paul could be the missing piece that helps them get there. He has a track record of success in the playoffs, and his experience and leadership could be invaluable in a high-pressure situation.
Finally, signing with the Lakers for a veteran’s minimum contract would be a smart financial move for Chris Paul. He has already made a lot of money in his career, and signing with a championship contender like the Lakers could help the player fit into a team that can realistically win it all. The reports of Paul always wanting to play with LeBron James is another example of why the Lakers and the future Hall of Fame point guard would be the best fit for each other.
Lakers Land Zach LaVine For A Fair Trade Package
Credit: Fadeaway World
The second step for the Lakers to build a superteam around LeBron James is acquiring Zach LaVine, a 2-time All-Star scorer with tremendous ability on the offensive end of the floor. The trade package would be fair for both teams and would include three players and the pivotal 2029 first-round pick heading to Chicago.
Trade Package: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Troy Brown Jr, 2029 First-Round Pick for Zach LaVine
Despite the lack of success with the Chicago Bulls this season, Zach LaVine is still an All-Star shooting guard. LaVine posted 24.8 PPG on 37.5% shooting from three, which are elite offensive numbers from a score-first player. LaVine has made 2 All-Star Teams already, and he is at risk of not making another one this season as he continues to barely scrape by with victories with the Bulls. No doubt, LaVine is exactly what the Lakers need because his shooting percentages are very solid, and is suited to a secondary or third role behind Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
LaVine shot 37.5% from three, 84.8% from the free-throw line, and 48.5% from the field as a whole. The shooting guard has to do a lot to keep the Chicago Bulls afloat and would be better to be the second or third option for a title contender. Now, the Bulls and Lakers are not far off in terms of team record and play so far, but LaVine and LeBron are one heck of a duo. Of course, with Davis and Paul also in the lineup, the Lakers will have the best Big Four in the NBA.
The Chicago Bulls would be smart to move on from LaVine to gain assets, and almost every rebuilding team dreams about the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick. It is expected that the Lakers won’t be any good in the 2029 season because LeBron will be long retired and Davis probably won’t be around either. As a spot-up shooter and a capable scorer without the ball, LaVine would be a perfect complement to Paul, James, and Davis in the starting lineup, even if Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and a first-round pick are heading Chicago’s way.
Lakers’ Depth
The Los Angeles Lakers’ depth is extremely impressive thanks to these deals as both the starting lineup and bench improve despite the loss of budding All-Star Austin Reaves.
Starting Lineup: Chris Paul, Zach LaVine, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis
Bench: Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker, Malik Beasley, Rui Hachimura, Wenyen Gabriel, Mo Bamba
Chris Paul’s addition to the Lakers’ starting lineup would bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. As a veteran point guard, Paul has proven himself to be a valuable asset to any team he plays for. His ability to control the pace of the game and make smart decisions with the ball would be a huge benefit to the Lakers. Zach LaVine’s inclusion in the starting lineup would provide the team with a dynamic scoring threat. LaVine is a talented shooting guard who can create his own shot and knock down shots from beyond the arc.
Of course, LeBron James is already a proven superstar in the league, and he will find a way to make Paul and LaVine mesh spectacularly well in the backcourt. There is no better leader than The King, and he can prove it with a host of stars around him. Jarred Vanderbilt has shown flashes of potential in his playing time with the Lakers and should be the certain starter moving forward due to his valuable rebounding and defensive s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s. Finally, Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the league and he completes the best Big Four in the NBA. Davis is a dominant force on both ends of the court and his ability to score, rebound, and defend would be a huge asset to the Lakers.
The bench is even scary with Dennis Schroder relegated to a 6th man role which he prospered in the 2020 season behind Chris Paul with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In that year, Schroder averaged 18.9 PPG and 4.0 APG as Paul’s backup, and there is no reason to believe why he won’t show that type of consistency as the 6th man this time. Lonnie Walker can be retained on a longer-term deal thanks to Paul’s willingness to take less money, and Rui Hachimura would be the biggest name off the bench after averaging 11.2 PPG and 4.5 RPG this season. No doubt, the Lakers are far better, with Schroder coming off the bench supporting Walker and Hachimura, while Beasley, Gabriel, and Bamba play filler minutes.
LeBron James’ Last Superteam
Overall, the Los Angeles Lakers can give LeBron James one final superteam to go after The King’s 5th championship. As of right now, James is behind in the pecking order in terms of total rings as he is behind the greatest Laker of all time, Kobe Bryant (five rings), and the undisputed greatest player ever, Michael Jordan (six rings). LeBron has always succeeded with a superteam and there wasn’t an instance with any franchise that he did not manage to get over the hump when surrounded by star players. The Russell Westbrook trade was a disastrous experiment, but Rob Pelinka and the Lakers managed to right their wrongs by trading him and giving chances to players such as Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura to show their talent.
Losing Austin Reaves was not in the Lakers’ plans this summer, but a player of Zach LaVine’s athleticism and scoring ability does not come around often because franchises hold onto elite scorers instead of trading them. Los Angeles needs to give LeBron James a dynamic roster because the West is stacked with the likes of the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors, all having deep rosters. Getting Chris Paul on board is the first major step to success and trading for Zach LaVine would mean the Lakers have one of the greatest Big Four’s in NBA history.
As a result, the Lakers would likely win the 2023-24 NBA title. James is under contract with a player option for the 2024-25 season, and if the team succeeds in 2023-24, he will sign on for yet another run. Nothing would mean more to James’ legacy than potentially winning six championships to equal Michael Jordan and then the GOAT debate would seriously start heating up. LeBron has one more chance with the Lakers to win a title, and if the franchise gives him Chris Paul and Zach LaVine, it is game over for every other team in the NBA next year.
