The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly considering a major roster shake-up, with the possibility of trading Austin Reaves to acquire Michael Porter Jr. from the Denver Nuggets. Porter's elite three-point shooting could help address one of the Lakers’ biggest weaknesses as they gear up for a deep postseason run. However, Denver’s reluctance to part ways with Porter may complicate negotiations.
Lakers Seeking Solutions to Three-Point Struggles
But they remain on top of the No. 2 seed contention in the Western Conference after the last three losses. Since February 2, when they secured Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade, the Lakers have been exceptionally brilliant but inconsistent. However, the three-point shooting under head coach JJ Redick has been an eye sore as the team is connecting only 35.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
This has fueled speculation that Michael Porter Jr. might end up being sought by Los Angeles during the offseason. The Nuggets forward, who signed a $179 million contract, has become known as one of the best long-range shooters in the game. During his one year as a rookie, he connected on a shocking 42.2 percent of his three-point attempts, and he kept up the efficient shooting, achieving at least 39.7 percent on four of the previous five seasons.
Porter's Shooting Could Bolster the Lakers
Shooting 50.6% from the field and 39.9% from beyond the arc, the 2023 NBA champion is averaging 18.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game over the course of this season. With such moves off the ball and having a quick, smooth release, this man could be one of the Lakers' best perimeter shooters in an otherwise deprived shooting team.
Though Austin Reaves has proven to be an indispensable cog in the machinery of Los Angeles, Porter's elite shooting could easily accelerate things to another level. Reaves' versatility has proven valuable, but his skills will probably not address the most critical voids that the Lakers need filled fully.
Complications in Landing Porter's Signature
Locking Porter will not be easy. The Nuggets are now so much keen in having him that he played a vital role in their championship campaign. "Denver was quite adamant about retaining Porter amid NBA trade rumors this season," so it is unlikely that they will even consider letting him go unless poor performance marks his performance or something badly debilitating comes up.
Lakers Keeping a Close Eye on Porter's Situation
The upcoming playoffs would probably make the Lakers even more observant of available chances concerning Porter. This could serve as a clear way for Los Angeles to purchase one of the best sharpshooting athletes in the game and reshape their roster for a deeper postseason run should Denver even hint at the possibility of discussing terms regarding the athlete.