Lakers News: Top 4 Realistic Knicks Trade Targets For LA

Your Los Angeles Lakers will square off against their two-time NBA Finals foes, the New York Knicks, tonight at Crypto.com Arena. The fun kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT.

For the record, they split their two encounters in 1970 (the Knicks won in four games) and '72 (LA won 4-1, with Wilt Chamberlain finally helping Jerry West earn his only title as a player). But I digress.

Neither the Lakers (15-11) nor the Knicks (14-11) are exactly where they'd want to be at this stage of the 2023-24 NBA season, perhaps, but these two teams represent that rarest of NBA transactional opportunities: clubs who could make a mutually beneficial trade.

Let's take a look at four intriguing New York players who could be intriguing transactional partners for Los Angeles.

I should probably supply a few caveats: Jalen Brunson, who signed an insanely team-friendly four-year, $104 million deal with the team last summer as a free agent, would absolutely not be traded. Guards Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes, both on great rookie-scale deals, would probably not be moved unless LA was willing to offload Austin Reaves as part of a larger trade.

Also, one of these deals can't actually be made until the offseason. So, there's that.

4. Josh Hart

Hart is essentially a better, longer more versatile Donte DiVincenzo (he has a 6'9" wingspan, compared to DiVincenzo's 6'6" wingspan). Although he's currently a 3-and-D bench energy guy, I could also see him replacing Cam Reddish or Taurean Prince from among the Lakers' starting lineup, as he's got a bit more of a handle and, though smaller, remains fairly switchable on D.

A former NCAA championship-winning Villanova teammate of DiVincenzo's, the 6'4" Hart agreed to a lucrative new four-year, $80.9 million contract extension with New York, which will kick in at the start of the 2024-25 season. A Lakers trade would need to be centered on some pricey deals. Because he's not really the level of scorer Barrett is and functions as more of a complimentary off-ball piece, I'd be wary to ditch D'Angelo Russell in a Hart deal. From a Knicks perspective, they also don't really need his playmaking or ballhandling. But they could use a little Julius Randle insurance, which is why Rui Hachimura could be an intriguing fit in a potential deal. Hart's making "just" $13 million this season, which would be enough in a trade for Hachimura's $15.7 million salary.

Across 27.8 minutes a night, Hart is averaging 7.8 points on .467/.361/.706 shooting splits, 5.6 boards, 2.8 boards and one steal a night. This is a big LA team, one that loves to make an impact by feasting on the glass and intimidating the opposition. Hart would fit in nicely, as he's a great rebounder for his size and a tough defender along the perimeter.

The only problem with a Hart trade: he's ineligible to be flipped before this year's trade deadline, so he would need to be dealt in the offseason.

3. Julius Randle

Randle is probably the Knicks' second-best player after Jalen Brunson, and he's on a fairly decent deal (he's got three years and $76.3 million remaining on it). But he'd be a weird fit to return to the team that drafted him, as he would technically overlap positionally with LeBron James. LA's All-Star power forward could shift back to small forward, but that would leave the club a bit more vulnerable to both quicker wings and bigger fours, as Randle is a poor defender anyway.

That said, with leaders as talented as James and Anthony Davis, and with a player-friendly coach in Darvin Ham, I think Los Angeles could try to make things work. Randle's passing and floor-spacing could help boost the Lakers' lackluster offense at least. He's the most talented player we'll talk about here, but the least clean fit.

2. Donte DiVincenzo

DiVincenzo has had a sloppy shooting start for the season, but has the outlines of a solid 3-and-D fit off the bench for Los Angeles. DiVincenzo was even recently promoted to New York's starting two-guard gig over Quentin Grimes, and it seems like he'll stick, for now. He'd help LA address its shooting while not losing much on the defensive end, and would essentially be a stabilizing upgrade over the more raw Max Christie.

The Villanova alum inked a four-year, $46.9 million agreement to join his hometown team this past summer, and has looked impressive thus far. On the year, the 6'4" two-guard is averaging 9.4 points on .438/.442/.724 shooting splits, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals a night -- those might be modest numbers, but keep in mind they're happening in just 20.6 minutes a night. Across his past five contests as a starter, he's averaging 10.6 points on .500/.500/.800 shooting splits, along with 3.4 boards, two assists and 1.2 steals a night.

1. R.J. Barrett

Barrett, a big, lengthy small forward/shooting guard with room to grow on both ends, is a bit pricey. This would sort of be contingent on the Lakers' internal valuation of his future equity.

Across 20 contests this season, Barrett has continued to take on a major role in his team's offensive attack, ranking third on the team in points scored with 19.1, on a solid slash line of .430/.352/.845. He's also notching 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 dimes. The 6'6" wing would serve as a more offensively-inclined option than current starter Taurean Prince.

Due to his pricey $23.9 million contract this year, Los Angeles would probably need to include something like a combination of D'Angelo Russell and Taurean Prince for salary-matching purposes. In this universe, 6'5" reserve guard Austin Reaves would be returned to his rightful place in the Lakers' first five, while Barrett would serve alongside him in the backcourt. Barrett is a more versatile and confident scorer than Prince, and has been playing more unselfishly under Tom Thibodeau.