Los Angeles Lakers 3-Team Trade Idea to Land DeMar DeRozan | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Lakers Receive: DeMar DeRozan (via sign-and-trade), 2030 second-round pick from Pistons (via Minnesota)

Lakers Lose: D'Angelo Russell and a 2025 second-round pick (via Los Angeles)

Right now, the Lakers could potentially have access to the non-taxpayer's mid-level exception, which would allow them to sign a player to a contract with a starting salary up to $12.8 million. That's why you've heard so much about LeBron James potentially taking a pay cut to keep L.A. under that line.

But the bigger pay cut in that scenario is the one DeRozan would be taking. He's coming off a 2023-24 in which he made $28.6 million. And while there may not be any suitors willing (or able) to match that number for a post-prime mid-range scorer, L.A. can at least do a little better for him with a sign-and-trade.

If DeRozan is OK with a three-year deal worth around $50 million, and the Lakers can find a third team to take on the final year of D'Angelo Russell's contract (since he doesn't make much sense for the Bulls), we may have something here.

Now, some might argue, given his age, that Russell is the better bet for 2024-25, but advanced metrics lean toward DeRozan, who's also bigger. Over the last few seasons, DeRozan's playmaking numbers have been right around Russell's, too. And though he's certainly not a lockdown defender, DeRozan's less prone to spaciness off the ball.