The exact decision regarding which player will be demoted to the Lakers’ bench in the wake of the trade for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton is still up in the air.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic speculates that forward Rui Hachimura could be the one to transition to a reserve role, which would allow Max Christie to remain in the starting lineup alongside Finney-Smith, forming a new-look unit.
The shift in roles is part of a broader strategy to improve the Lakers’ overall lineup, adding valuable defensive strength and three-point shooting to the starting five.
Beyond the changes in player roles, the trade also provides financial flexibility for the Lakers. The acquisition of Finney-Smith and Milton helps the team move $3.5MM below the NBA’s restrictive second tax apron, giving them more room to maneuver within the salary cap structure.
This additional financial flexibility could prove vital as the Lakers continue to manage their roster and prepare for future moves.
The departure of D’Angelo Russell, while addressing the team’s need for defense and off-ball shooting, leaves the Lakers without some of the playmaking ability that Russell brought to the court.
Nevertheless, this trade appears to be a calculated move to balance the roster in favor of defensive and shooting improvements.
Looking ahead, Los Angeles still has several trade assets available should they wish to make further moves. In addition to two remaining second-round draft picks and three first-round pick swaps, the Lakers possess three tradable future first-round draft picks.
However, due to the Stepien rule, they can only trade away two of those first-round picks at most, restricting their flexibility when it comes to major trades. Despite this, the Lakers’ management still has options to make additional roster improvements if they see fit.
Lakers Notes: James, Christie, Finney-Smith, Trade Assets https://t.co/zUGdxeHd41 pic.twitter.com/YjDCoX8lJp
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 30, 2024
