The NBA offseason is heating up with a potential blockbuster three-way trade involving the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, and Toronto Raptors. The trade could see Trae Young joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis in L.A., a move that would significantly alter the landscape for all three teams.
The Hawks, who went all-in on Dejounte Murray in 2022 but missed the playoffs this season, and the Raptors, who could leverage their assets for a strategic rebuild, are poised to make significant changes. This complex deal would involve numerous player swaps and draft picks, creating a win-win scenario for each franchise.
A direct trade between the Lakers and the Hawks could be challenging, but the Toronto Raptors could facilitate a more complex three-team deal. The proposed trade details are as follows. It’s worth noting that these are all speculations based on various insider and media reports.
Los Angeles Lakers
Receive - Trae Young and Kelly Olynyk
Lose - D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2028 first-round pick swap, 2029 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick swap, 2031 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick (via Clippers)
Acquiring Trae Young and Kelly Olynyk for the Lakers would add significant talent to their roster. Young is a prolific scorer and playmaker, averaging 27.1 points and 9.9 assists over the past five seasons. His addition would form a dynamic duo with Anthony Davis, potentially setting up a strong post-LeBron future. Kelly Olynyk's size, passing ability, and shooting would also provide valuable versatility, allowing Davis to return to his natural power forward position without compromising floor spacing.
Atlanta Hawks
Receive - Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen McDaniels, 2028 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles, 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles, 2031 first-round pick from Los Angeles
Lose - Trae Young and Garrison Mathews
The Hawks would receive a solid package of young talent and future draft assets in return for Young. Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt are all productive players entering their primes, which could seamlessly integrate with Dejounte Murray and other core players. Including Jalen McDaniels and multiple future first-round picks would help Atlanta rebuild its roster and recover some of the draft capital lost in the Murray trade.
Toronto Raptors
Receive - D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Garrison Mathews, 2030 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles, 2025 second-round pick from Los Angeles (via Clippers)
Lose - Kelly Olynyk and Jalen McDaniels
Toronto would benefit from acquiring D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and future draft considerations. Russell could regain his value with more on-ball opportunities in Toronto. At the same time, Hood-Schifino's potential and impressive shooting in the G-League adds a promising young talent to the Raptors' roster. This move aligns with the Raptors' focus on building around Scottie Barnes by adding young shooters and maintaining future flexibility.
While this trade involves complex logistics and significant player movements, it offers strategic benefits for each team, potentially setting the stage for an exciting NBA season ahead. However, this might shape up after the NBA Finals between Dallas and Boston.