Lakers should acquire 6-foot-10 sharpshooter, lob threat via stunning Adou Thiero swap

The Los Angeles Lakers' generational duo of ex-Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić and 21-time All-Star LeBron James will hole for a pivotal 2025-26 run alongside a marque caller starting-caliber large man.

Following nan addition of erstwhile No. 1 wide prime successful nan 2018 NBA Draft Deandre Ayton and return of accordant backup halfway Jaxson Hayes successful free agency, nan Lakers' frontcourt saw important betterment this offseason, but much activity is near to beryllium done.

Though Ayton and Hayes are fantabulous rim-running threats, nan Lakers' nonaccomplishment to get a coagulated floor-spacing large man specified arsenic Myles Turner aliases Brook Lopez whitethorn person hampered their chances of genuinely competing successful a loaded Western Conference adjacent season.

A three-point threat successful nan frontcourt would person made a world of quality for Los Angeles nether caput coach JJ Redick, but nan franchise hasn't needfully tally retired of options. In an effort to brace Dončić and James pinch a versatile large man that tin connection size astatine nan rim and three-point shooting ability, Pelinka whitethorn look to discuss a mid-season waste and acquisition to bring successful nan Chicago Bulls' Jalen Smith aft his Dec. 15 waste and acquisition regularisation passes. 

If nan Lakers' wide head Rob Pelinka were to research nan waste and acquisition marketplace and perchance leverage a portion of nan organization's early for contiguous success, nan squad could find an unexpected waste and acquisition partner successful Chicago. For a woody of this quality to beryllium agreed upon, nan Lakers' No. 36 wide prime successful nan 2025 NBA Draft Adou Thiero could beryllium shipped retired successful tandem pinch nan expiring $11 cardinal net of Maxi Kleber.

Thiero's contiguous departure could beryllium to beryllium a gut punch for Los Angeles, but nan 6-foot-6 two-way defender whitethorn liking Chicago arsenic a task piece.

While his ratio has taken a flimsy tumble from distance, nan 6-foot-10 Smith has plentifulness to connection arsenic an diversion lob-finisher and consenting three-point shooter.

Follow The Sporting News connected WhatsApp

In 64 appearances pinch nan Bulls this past season, nan erstwhile No. 10 wide prime successful nan 2020 NBA Draft averaged 8.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks while knocking down 32.4% of his looks from deep.

Smith's extracurricular shot-making has visibly dipped from his fantabulous 42.4% three-point shooting clip arsenic a personnel of nan Indiana Pacers successful 2023-24, but placement successful nan correct violative strategy mightiness spot nan erstwhile lottery prime return to his aged ways successful 2025-26.

In definite packages, it's plausible that nan Lakers could play some Smith and Hayes astatine nan aforesaid clip owed to nan former's shooting prowess and nan latter's uber-athleticism astatine nan basket. 

By prospectively pairing nan all-around violative talent successful two-man packages pinch either Dončić aliases James, nan brace of tremendous play-makers could either deed Smith pinch pinpoint lob passes aliases kick-outs to nan corners for unfastened three-point opportunities.

More NBA: Grading Cooper Flagg's Summer League: How Mavericks' No. 1 prime fared successful 2 games successful Las Vegas