The Los Angeles Lakers are finding their options in NBA free agency to be quite limited, prompting a need to explore trade opportunities for a major roster boost. A July 14, 2024, report by Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggests that one potential trade scenario could involve the Lakers exchanging former All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell for Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr.
Knox pointed out that from a financial perspective, the Lakers could feasibly arrange a trade with Orlando. The Magic, in need of a guard like Russell, might also be interested in gaining additional draft assets. However, there is concern that interest from other teams might drive Carter’s trade value higher than what the Lakers are willing to pay.
Carter, who has two years remaining on a favorable four-year, $65 million contract, is seen by some NBA executives as a promising young player, though he has struggled with injuries. An executive interviewed by Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney on July 10 indicated that the Lakers are closely watching Carter’s availability due to his age, contract, and perceived undervaluation.
Carter’s availability has been limited by injuries in recent seasons, causing him to miss a significant number of games. On the other hand, Russell has chosen to stay for the final year of his current contract, which carries an $18.6 million cap hit for the 2024-25 season, potentially making him a valuable asset for salary-matching purposes, as reported by The Athletic’s Jovan Buha on June 29.
Buha also mentioned that despite Russell’s decision to remain in Los Angeles, the Lakers are expected to actively seek trades involving him, especially after failing to make a move before the 2024 trade deadline. Internally, there are concerns about the long-term effectiveness of pairing Russell with Austin Reaves in the Lakers’ backcourt, considering Reaves’ youth, defensive skills, and cost-effective contract.
