Monumental trade idea gives Lakers a talented wing and center

USA Today

17-05-2025

Monumental trade idea gives Lakers a talented wing and center
Changes will likely be coming to the Los Angeles Lakers' roster this summer. The team suffered from a very weak center rotation and a lack of guard and wing depth following the Luka Doncic trade, and both deficiencies resulted in it losing in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It won't be easy for the Lakers to pull off a trade or two to address both deficiencies. But Eddie Bitar of Fadeaway World put forth a big trade idea involving three teams that would net the Lakers two players who would plug both needs.
In this trade, they would give up guard Austin Reaves and forward Dorian Finney-Smith while receiving wing Andrew Wiggins and center Kel'El Ware, both of whom are currently members of the Heat.
Via Fadeaway World:
"Wiggins, who averaged 18.0 points per game with a 44.8% field goal percentage during the 2024–25 season, brings versatile defense and scoring ability to the wing position," Bitar wrote. "His experience and athleticism complement Doncic's playmaking and [LeBron] James's leadership, especially when considering he had finals MVP-worthy performances in the 2022 NBA Finals.
"Kel'el Ware, a promising 21-year-old center, adds youth and athleticism to the Lakers' frontcourt. In his rookie season, Ware posted 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game, shooting an efficient 55.4% from the field.
"His presence addresses the Lakers' need for a dynamic big man who can protect the rim and finish around the basket. No doubt, he would be an immediate upgrade over who the Lakers had competing at center this past season: Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len.
"This trade allows the Lakers to balance their roster by adding a seasoned wing and an emerging center, providing Doncic and James with the support needed to contend in the competitive Western Conference."
Wiggins could be a nice replacement for Reaves who could fit the Lakers better than Reaves does. While he isn't the secondary ball-handler or facilitator that Reaves is, he's about as reliable a 3-pointer as the undrafted guard is. Wiggins made 37.4% of his 5.8 3-point attempts a game this season, and he's an athletic wing who can get out in transition and defend at a high level, two things Reaves struggles with.
While he's more of a 3 than a 4, unlike Finney-Smith, he could fit Los Angeles well, given the fact that James and Rui Hachimura primarily play the 4. The experience he has as a key contributor to the Golden State Warriors when they won the 2022 NBA championship also doesn't hurt.
Ware was the No. 15 pick in last year's NBA draft and stands seven feet tall while weighing 230 pounds. NBADraft.net's scouting report on him said he has the "prototypical size, length and athleticism for the NBA center position," and he runs the floor well, rebounds well and blocks shots. However, that same scouting report also expressed concerns about his determination, focus and demeanor.