The Los Angeles Lakers are currently the worst team in the Western Conference with a 16-32 overall record. They've lost 7 of their last 10 games and got absolutely destroyed by the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday by a final score of 122-73. They are still in rebuilding mode in the post-Kobe Bryant era with D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle as their core trio for the future and while that trio appears to have a lot of potential, it feels as though the Lakers need to make some moves in order to better position themselves for success.
When looking at the Lakers' roster, what really stands out is all the quality guards that they have. Lou Williams (17.9 points per game), D'Angelo Russell (14.3 points per game), Jordan Clarkson (13.9 points per game), and Nick Young (13.7 points per game) are all quality guards that can score the ball. It feels a bit redundant to have so many guys at the same position that produce at roughly the same level, which makes a trade a viable solution to the conundrum.
Of the four guards to trade, Lou Williams or Jordan Clarkson make the most sense to move. Nick Young I feel doesn't have that much trade value given that he is a "chucker" and known for being a diva while D'Angelo Russell has got too much upside and is still very early in his career.
The reason Lou Williams makes sense is that's he's a quality veteran guard who could help out a playoff contender at the trade deadline. Teams like the Celtics, Raptors, Hawks, and Clippers may be interested in making a move for him. Of course, it depends on what the offers are, but considering that Lou Williams will likely be past his prime by the time the Lakers actually become something indicates that he's a good player for them to unload. With him gone, the Lakers could give more minutes to D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, helping them develop one of the better young backcourts in the NBA.
As for Jordan Clarkson, the reason it could make sense to trade him is that they could get a lot more for him. Considering his upside and potential, a lot of teams would be willing to make a move for him and could offer future draft picks, a big man, and other pieces. By trading Jordan Clarkson, the Lakers would be sending a firm message to D'Angelo Russell that he's their guy and that they are committed to building around him by getting better complimentary pieces.
What will be interesting to see is how the Lakers handle their crowded backcourt and whether or not they start to engage in trade talks to solve the problem. The Lakers are slowly heading in the right direction and so I don't necessarily think they should feel pressured into making a trade right away. What they should be doing is putting their feelers out and seeing what the market is for Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson. If some team is willing to make a trade for either player that helps them form a more well-rounded team, they should absolutely pull the trigger.
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