Lakers Have Had Internal Talks About Trading for Hawks’ Trae Young

The Lakers have discussed the idea of trying to work out a trade for Hawks star guard Trae Young this summer, and what an offer might look like, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

Young and Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving attended two of the Lakers’ postseason games, with Irving repeatedly being linked to the Lakers as well.

Of course, wanting Young or Irving and actually landing them are two different matters entirely.

For starters, there is no sense that the Hawks are looking to trade Young, sources told Hoops Wire. So it would take some serious convincing — and perhaps Lakers big man Anthony Davis — for the Hawks to even engage.

Worse, the Lakers do not have any available first-round picks to trade for just about the remainder of the entire decade.

Meanwhile, Irving is a free agent and remains the Lakers’ preference. But the Mavs could pay him considerably more, and the Lakers would have to do some serious housecleaning to be able to give Irving a fair deal.

Along with that news, as we relayed earlier, star forward LeBron James indicated he is weighing retirement. So until the Lakers know more about that, they’re highly unlikely to make any major deals. If James doesn’t return, it will undoubtedly go a long way in determining how GM Rob Pelinka and the front office go about constructing the roster.

Then again, they could set out to build the best roster possible in hopes that James will want to come back.

For the record, most league sources have predicted to Hoops Wire that James and the Lakers will be together again next season — as he still has two years and close to $100 million left on his contract.

But who else will be with him in that scenario remains to be seen.

The Lakers' desire for a third star is known. And while Kyrie Irving remains the preference, other options are being explored.

Los Angeles has internally discussed the possibility of acquiring Trae Young, league sources tell @jovanbuha.

More potential offseason moves:

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 23, 2023