The Lakers have been looking to trade their 2031 or 2032 unprotected first round picks for three earlier protected picks from teams like the Thunder, Spurs, and Nets who could benefit from consolidating their excess picks.
Teams like the Thunder, Spurs, and Nets own more first round picks than they can ever use and face mounting pressure to consolidate their earlier lesser-value protected picks into later higher-value unprotected picks. These teams are also under constant pressure to move older higher paid players in order to create openings and opportunities for the waves of younger less expensive talent produced by their war chest of draft picks.
Reports are the Thunder are willing to move on from Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein due to salary cap considerations and the need to open up opportunities for their endless stream of younger, cheaper players.
The Spurs and Nets will soon be in the same situation as the Thunder. They will have more picks than they can use and will need to consolidate picks and create new opportunities for each new year’s draft class of players.
The Lakers should prepare offers for the Thunder, Spurs, and Nets that address their specific needs to consolidate their war chest of picks and trade older costlier players to open up spots for younger cheaper players.
What the Lakers should want for their unprotected 2031 first round pick is a pick worthy impact veteran player who fits Luka Doncic’s timeline and needs plus a pair of lesser-value earlier-year protected first round picks.
The Lakers need a guard to provide all-star level point-of-attack defense and centers to protect the rim and space the floor with 3-point shooting. Here are 4 Lakers trades for an impact player and first round pick(s):
1. LUGUENTZ DORT & FIRST ROUND PICK
…
The Lakers trade of Rui Hachimura and their 2031 unprotected first round pick to the Thunder for Luguentz Dort, Rockets’ 2026 protected first round pick, and Nuggets’ 2027 protected first round pick would be win-win trade.
The Lakers get the elite point-of-attack 3&D guard they need in 26-year old Luguentz Dort and convert their 2031 unprotected first round pick into two earlier protected first round picks they can use to sweeten additional deals.
Adding an 2025 first team all-defensive player like Dort for an offense-only player like Hachimura not only gives the Lakers a great point-of-attack defender but also avoids overpaying or losing Hachimura for nothing.
The Thunder successfully swapping Luguentz Dort’s 2-year deal for 27-year old Rui Hachimura’s expiring contract gives them an opportunity to reduce their rapidly growing salary cap as players start to receive big extensions.
As they identify and pay their future superstars and stars, the Thunder will be under constant pressure to move older more expensive players to make room for the younger less expensive players joining from every draft.
The Thunder trade is just a key first step for the Lakers. It not only adds Dort but gives the Lakers 2 protected first round picks to use as sweeteners to move one-way players on expiring salary for impact two-way players.
The Lakers could use those 2 first round picks and expiring contracts to trade for a 3&D guard like Keon Ellis and a 3&D wing like Andrew Wiggins or save both until next draft day when they could have 4 first round picks.
Landing elite 3&D guard Luguentz Dort and a pair of 2026 and 2027 protected first round picks for their 2031 unprotected first round pick would elevate the LA Lakers to legitimate championship contenders.
2. ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN & FIRST ROUND PICK
…
The Lakers swapping Hachimura, Vincent, and their 2031 unprotected first round pick to the Thunder for Isaiah Hartenstein, Rockets’ 2026 protected first, and Nuggets’ 2027 protected first would also be a win-win trade.
The Lakers get an elite shot blocking, rim protector in 27-year old Isaiah Hartenstein and convert their 2031 unprotected first round pick into two earlier protected first round picks they can turn around and trade.
Adding an elite defensive starting center in Hartenstein who can anchor the Lakers’ defense and protect the rim for a pair of offense-first players like Hachimura and Vincent could transform the Lakers defensively.
The Thunder successfully trading Isaiah Hartenstein’s 2-year deal for Rui Hachimura’s and Gabe Vincent’s expiring contracts gives OKC an excellent opportunity to upgrade their front court with a younger cheaper player.
Right now, the Thunder’s greatest area of vulnerability is their front court, which struggles against bigger and more physical opposing front courts. The Thunder could be planning for a major upgrade at center position.
Like the Dort trade, the Hartenstein trade gives the Lakers additional trade capital in the form of two protected late first round picks that LA can use to sweeten deals for expiring contracts to surround Luka with right players.
The Lakers can use one or both picks before the deadline to up the team’s chances to win a championship with Luka and LeBron this year or save the two picks until next summer when they could offer 4 first round picks.
Trading Hachimura, Vincent, and their 2031 unprotected first round pick for Hartenstein and a pair of 2026 and 2027 protected first round picks could transform the LA Lakers’ team defense from bottom-10 to top-10.
3. NICOLAS CLAXTON & FIRST ROUND PICK
…
The Lakers swap of Vincent, Kleber, Ayton, and their 2031 unprotected first round pick to the Nets for Nicolas Claxton, Rockets’ 2027 protected first, and Knicks’ 2027 protected first would also qualify as a win-win trade.
The Lakers get an elite shot blocking, rim protector in 26-year old Nicolas Claxton and convert their 2031 unprotected first round pick into two earlier protected first round picks which they can use to sweeten more trades.
Landing an elite starting center in Claxton who can anchor the Lakers’ defense and protect the rim for two players on expiring contracts and a center they want to move on from could transform the Lakers defensively.
The Nets get two players with expiring contracts that will enable them to create cap space to empower them to acquire more draft picks for taking on bad contracts from teams needing to clean up their salary cap space.
Brooklyn also gets a chance to dump Claxton’s contract and consolidate two 2027 lesser-value protected first round picks the Nets got from the Rockets and Knicks into a higher-value Lakers’ 2031 unprotected first round pick.
The beauty of this trade is that it not only brings in a new center in Nic Claxton but also gets rid of the old center in Deandre Ayton, avoiding the problem of his looming $8 million player option for the 2026–27 season.
The Nets trade also gives the Lakers a pair of protected first round picks to use before the deadline to sweeten trades to fill other critical roster needs or to save so they can offer 4 first round picks on draft day next summer.
Trading Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Deandre Ayton, and their 2031 unprotected first round pick to Nets for Nicolas Claxton and a pair of 2027 protected first round picks could transform the Lakers defensively.
4. KELLY OLYNYK & FIRST ROUND PICK
…
The Lakers trade of Vincent, Knecht, and their 2031 unprotected first round pick to Spurs for Kelly Olynyk, Spurs’ 2026 protected first, Hawks’ 2027 protected first, and Spurs’ 2028 protected first would be a win-win trade.
While 34-year old Kelly Olynyk is not the obvious impact player the younger Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, or Nic Claxton are, the Lakers saw with Drew Timme how a versatile stretch big could impact the team’s spacing.
The Lakers need a floor spacing big with the smarts to know when to put the ball on the floor and when and where to pass, which is exactly what the Lakers would get with Kelly Olynyk. Plus they get 3 protected picks back.
The Lakers also need positional size. Olynyk gives them a legitimate 7-footer who can play alongside any center in the league in a 2-bigs lineup. Kelly’s not an elite shot blocker but can move feet and defend in space.
Olynyk is also a perfect small ball center who can pass, dribble, and shoot the ball and is comfortable defending in the paint or on the perimeter. Kelly would upgrade the Lakers’ front court strength and versatility.
The Spurs receive a two-way 3&D guard on an expiring contract who can get hot from deep in Gabe Vincent and a longshot gamble on a young potential lethal 3-point shooter who needs a fresh start in Dalton Knecht.
Additionally, the Spurs get to consolidate 3 earlier protected first round picks into the Lakers 2031 unprotected first round pick. Unlike the other proposed Lakers trades, the Lakers get 3 picks back instead of just 2 picks.
Trading Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, and their 2031 unprotected first round pick for Kelly Olynyk and 3 earlier protected first round picks be a move that catapults the Lakers into becoming an offensive juggernaut.