3-Team Trade Proposal Sends Trae Young To Lakers, Austin Reaves To Hawks, D’Angelo Russell To Raptors

One NBA analyst proposed a three-team trade idea between the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Lakers, Hawks and Raptors:

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Trae Young and Kelly Olynyk

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen McDaniels, a 2028 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles, a 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles and a 2031 first-round pick from Los Angeles

Toronto Raptors Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Garrison Mathews, a 2030 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles and a 2025 second-round pick from Los Angeles (via Clippers)

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers hold interest in trading for Young, who averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 10.8 assists this season while shooting 43.0% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 85.5% from the free-throw line. He recorded 37 double-doubles in 54 games. 

“Despite the steady stream of criticism that’s followed Young for most of his career, he averaged 27.1 points, 9.9 assists and 2.8 threes per game over the last five seasons,” Bailey wrote. “He’s one of the best and most dynamic offensive engines and pick-and-roll playmakers in the NBA. The Lakers also might feel a bit better about their post-LeBron James with a Young-Anthony Davis duo in place.”

Young signed a five-year, $215 million extension with the Hawks in August 2021. He’ll make $43 million next season and $45 million in 2025-26.

Young was with Klutch Sports Group, the agency LeBron and Davis are with. He recently joined CAA. 

According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers prefer to keep Reaves, who averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists this season while shooting 48.6% from the field, 36.7% from beyond the arc and 85.3% from the free-throw line. He played in all 82 games. 

Russell can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers. The lefty appeared in 76 games this season. He averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field, 41.5% from beyond the arc and 82.8% from the free-throw line. 

It will be fascinating to see if the Lakers make a blockbuster trade this offseason. The franchise is expected to hire former NBA guard and current ESPN commentator JJ Redick as its new head coach.