Indiana Pacers: One trade with the Lakers that actually makes sense

Why should the Lakers trade for McConnell?

First, the Lakers don’t have ample roster control over THT. Even if they successfully bank on him to bounce back next season, he can simply opt out of his current deal, and the limited Purple and Gold, with their bulky payroll, are unlikely to be able to keep him on a richer deal. Hence, trading for someone like McConnell is a practical choice for them financially.

However, beyond the money talk, McConnell figures to be a good fit in LA. His three-point shot is next to nothing, but he is essentially the Lakers’ playbook embodied. He is a wonderful orchestrator in fast break opportunities who blends well with LAL’s penchant for such. With them struggling gravely on defense, TJM should also patch some holes, as he is a very sneaky defender who can slow down guards and fit well in team concepts.

And if you’re debunking this on the grounds of Russell Westbrook and his sheer presence negating the need for him, no. McConnell is deadly on the mid-range, unlike Russ who has fallen off a cliff in nearly all shooting areas.

Also, the Lakers could feel incentivized to get a high second-rounder, as they simply have exhausted virtually all their draft assets as they built their uber-expensive roster.