Lakers, Hornets Stun Entire NBA In Blockbuster NBA Trade Proposal

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2024-25 NBA season without having made any real modifications to improve the roster over the summer.

This week, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania suggested that L.A. has its eye on making a big move to start the season.

“Sources tell me that the Lakers have been exploring potentially adding a big-man center to their roster,” Charania said.

“Christian Wood remains sidelined, he’s got a knee issue. He had surgery recently, so they’re waiting for him to be back. Jaxson Hayes has really stepped up in training camp, has been a positive factor for the Lakers, but another thing to keep an eye on is Christian Koloko,” Charania added.

“They signed him to a two-way contract before training camp. He was expected to play a potential reserve role on this roster. Doctors have felt confident that he will be cleared by the league’s Fitness-to-Play Panel due to his blood clot issue, but that is still an ongoing process.”

The Lakers have a big hole at the five-spot, and that is where the Charlotte Hornets come in.

As noted by Fadeaway World, a proposed trade to keep an eye on would send Nick Richards to L.A. in return for Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jaxson Hayes, and a 2025 second-rounder going to Charlotte.

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Why is this a blockbuster deal? Because despite Richards being relatively unknown due to him playing for one of the league’s less popular teams, he is actually exactly what the Lakers need.

Last year Richards averaged nearly 10 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block per game – and he did this while playing in just 26 minutes per outing.

Put him in the middle with Anthony Davis and you immediately get a very formidable front court to work with.

Will the Lakers and Hornets ultimately get his deal done? Time will tell. Should they, though? Absolutely.

Carlos Garcia

A longtime Sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB Games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.