Lakers look to the future with mid-season trade

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers traded away the future of the franchise last week just before the deadline for a couple of seasoned veterans and a future first round draft pick in hopes of bringing some star power back to the Staple Center.

Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. were shipped to Cleveland to join Lebron James in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and a 2018 first round draft pick. 

Nance grew up in the Akron area and was reportedly overwhelmed with joy when he found out he was headed home to the Cavs.

The move was just what King James needed to rejuvenate his hopes of bringing another championship to his hometown this season. The Cavs got fresh legs in the dynamic duo who already know how to play together and have displayed their chemistry. They both have great basketball IQ and hustle every play. Hard to replace solid role players like Nance and Clackson.

Their intangibles will translate well as the season evolves. Clarkson is surely going to be a factor in the postseason and is making an instant impact with his new squad.

In his first two games, Clarkson is averaging 15.5 points off the bench in 23.5 minutes of action. He has been shooting better than 60 percent from the field since the trade.

Clarkson is a winner with a lot of talent and heart. He still has a long career ahead of him.
The Lakers’ already poor defense only got worse with the trade.  Frye and Thomas are still learning how to play with each other.

Thomas is an undersized point guard who has been known to take plays off on defense. He will need to step up his game on the defensive side of the ball if he wants to help the Lakers while bringing in his veteran leadership. 

One upside for Thomas coming to the Lakers is he doesn’t have the likes of King James looming over him like he did in Cleveland. He can get back to his scoring ways on a team he can claim as his own.

Thomas had his best performance of the season in his Lakers debut, dropping 22 points in 31 minutes off the bench. He added six assists and a steal in the losing effort in Dallas last Saturday and will be starting sooner rather than later.

“I got my power back,” said Thomas after the game.

All-Star Weekend

The NBA’s biggest stars will convene in the Staples Center for the 2018 All-Star Weekend which kicks off Friday with the Celebrity All-Stars game at 4 p.m. 

On Saturday, the annual Three Point Contest, Slam Dunk contest, and the Skills challenge will kickoff at 5 p.m.

The actual All-Star game will be on Sunday at 5 p.m.

All events can be seen on TNT.