Lakers Enter the Race for James Harden

James Harden has been linked with just about every single team in the league at this point, but a new trade proposal shows Harden finally leaving Philadelphia and teaming up with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Trade Proposal

This trade scenario sees the Lakers giving up G D'Angelo Russell, F Rui Hachimura, G/F Cam Reddish, and a 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL) for former MVP Harden.

Russell is a no-brainer for any trade scenario involving the Lakers and Harden. They both play the same position, so it makes sense that they would be a straight swap in terms of rotation minutes for either franchise. Cam Reddish, while valuable and a very good role player, is not necessarily vital to the Lakers' roster. They have similar players who can fill his role, such as Austin Reaves and Taurean Prince. But the biggest loss for the Lakers in this trade is Rui Hachimura.


Hachimura added some extra size to the Lakers when he was traded to them last season. After an impressive showing for the Lakers in the playoffs, he proved to be a key player for them when it counted. His form earned him a $51 million contract extension this summer, and with the possibility of him being used as the replacement for LeBron James if he leaves next summer, the Lakers may not part ways with him so easily.


Why the Lakers Need Harden

The Lakers have made many new additions via free agency this summer, signing players such as Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, and Christian Wood to help them improve upon last season. Their roster is the deepest it has been since the Anthony Davis and LeBron pairing formed in 2019. Even though this trade for Harden would compromise their depth, they would be better off with the former MVP than what they would give up for him.

The lakers Full Off Season recap

The playoffs are historically known for teams playing shorter rotations, and with so much depth, Coach Darvin Ham would struggle to find consistent minutes for many of the new acquisitions the Lakers have. You would expect LeBron and Davis to play more minutes, and bringing in another All-star like Harden is invaluable when it comes to a playoff run.

The Lakers' downfall last season came when they were swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. They could not find consistent form from their role players, and having a star like Harden to lean on in struggling times would improve their chances by a landslide. This also gives the Lakers another elite playmaker other than LeBron. The "Beard" is a 2-time league assists leader, including last year when he averaged 10.7 assists per game.


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