Report:The Los Angeles Lakers Are Pushing To Trade For DeMar DeRozan Before The Trade Deadline. Would DeMar DeRozan Be Enough For The Lakers To Win Back To Back Championships?

In the last 20 years, the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers have arguably been the most iconic and successful Western Conference teams. Even though Golden State was recently a dynasty in the NBA for five seasons, the Spurs and Lakers were successful in the 2000s and 2010s. Unfortunately, the San Antonio Spurs are no longer what they were and instead have regressed as an organization. Rather than competing, they have taken a step back and entered a rebuilding phase while holding onto veteran players such as DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge. With the San Antonio Spurs being in the complete opposite spectrum of the current Los Angeles Lakers, many organizations have expressed interest in former All-Star DeMar DeRozan. Recent reports have shown that a possible DeMar DeRozan trade could happen sooner than we realize. According to an article by Greg Patuto of the NBA Analysis Network, he reveals why the Los Angeles Lakers are the perfect destination for the former Toronto Raptor phenom. 

Before the NBA season started, reports suggested that DeMar DeRozan was unhappy with being a part of the San Antonio Spurs. From their lack of playoff talent to the organization entering a rebuilding phase, it makes complete sense as to why DeRozan would want to be traded to a different or even a contending team. Even though he did deny such reports or allegations, it’s still worth discussing whether or not DeRozan truly enjoys representing the San Antonio Spurs. In terms of the Los Angeles Lakers, is it worth trading for DeMar DeRozan, especially after the James Harden trade? 

On January 13, 2021, the Houston Rockets officially traded away James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team trade that completely shifted the NBA’s entire landscape. With this trade being one of the most intense deals in NBA history, the Brooklyn Nets have become the probable favourites to make the NBA finals in the Eastern Conference. A team composed of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving would be the greatest scoring trio in NBA history and the toughest team to guard. If the Los Angeles Lakers want to win back to back championships, a duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis might not be enough against this new trio. Even though the Lakers have better depth and defensive players than the Nets, Brooklyn’s scoring potential quickly makes up their lack of defence. The Lakers need a reliable third-option more than anything else; hence why DeMar DeRozan is their best option to trade for. 

Despite his lack of three-point shooting since being drafted in the NBA, DeMar DeRozan is still one of the most talented scorers in the NBA. From his unguardable mid-range shot to his ability to score in the paint with ease, DeRozan would be the ideal candidate to fit the role of being a third-option to the Los Angeles Lakers. For many years, DeRozan has been pressured to being a first-option, which ultimately destroyed his confidence in the playoffs. In this new environment, he would no longer need to feel that pressure and instead would be an addition to a championship calibre roster. DeRozan’s reputation in the playoffs tarnished his image in the NBA as he is now labelled as a “washed up All-Star.” In reality, DeRozan is still an All-Star calibre player in the NBA but needs to play for an organization that is currently in the spotlight while also being in a situation where he can win a championship. As iconic as the San Antonio Spurs once were, they are no longer the playoff contenders they once were. It’s time for DeRozan to finally play for an organization that can actually win multiple championships in many years to come. 

The James Harden trade definitely has shaped what could be the future dynasty of the NBA. With LeBron James currently being 36-years-old, the Lakers need to make a move and trade for other All-Star calibre players. This past off-season, the Lakers made significant moves by signing Montrezl Harrell, Marc Gasol and Wesley Mathews while trading for Dennis Schroder. Unfortunately, those significant moves do not compare to the three-headed monster Brooklyn possesses, hence why a trade needs to happen! 

The best trade that the Lakers could offer to the Spurs that does not require losing so much of their depth is Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Markieff Morris and an unprotected 2025 first-round pick for DeMar Derozan. This trade provides San Antonio with a young starting center (which they lack) and two solid rotational players that would receive a generous amount of playing time. With Markieff Morris in this trade package, the Spurs would most likely explore a LaMarcus Aldridge trade as the Spurs would have too many power forwards. Attaining a first-round pick from the Lakers is also beneficial to this trade, considering that the Spurs are a rebuilding team. The Lakers may lose quite a bit of their depth, but with the rise of Talen Horton-Tucker and a potential increase in minutes for Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers would possess a much better bench unit than the Brooklyn Nets. This trade makes sense for both organizations and is probably the best package the Spurs would receive from any other organization that is interested in DeMar DeRozan.