McCollum to Lakers; Lakers/Pelicans/Pistons

[Bentley1225]

Ill offer this idea for Pelicans to move on from McCollum to get under tax short term.

***Jan 15th***

To Los Angeles Lakers (Trade Hachimura, Vincent, Christie, 2nds)
-CJ McCollum (2 years, $63.3 million)
-Karlo Matkovic (1 year, $1.4 million)

To New Orleans (Trade McCollum, Matkovic)
-Rui Hachimura (2 years, $35.2 million)
-Gabe Vincent (2 years, $22.5 million)
-Wendell Moore Jr. (1 year, $2.7 million)
-2025 Clippers or Lakers 2nd (most favorable)

To Detroit (Trade Moore)
-Max Christie (3 years, $23 million plus P.O.)
-2025 Clippers or Lakers 2nd (least favorable)

Why?
-Lakers add McCollum who gives them more scoring in backcourt as a replacement to DLo. Lakers get best player available with 1 more year on his contract as it gives Lakers flexibility to rebuild in summer of 2026 while maximizing their current window as McCollum and James are off the books, Reaves can not exercise his player option and Lakers could deal a 34 year old AD for assets.

Reaves/Schifino/James
McCollum/Milton/FA?
Knecht/DFS/Reddish
James/Vanderbilt/Matkovic
Davis/Hayes/Wood

-Pelicans get under tax threshold and add a 2nd as they open up minutes at the 2 and 3

Hunter/Alvarado/Vincent
Hawkins/Green/Reeves/Moore
Ingram/Murphy
Jones/Hachimura/Robinson-Earl/Williamson
Missi/Theis

-Pistons add a young SG/SF in Christie as a former Spartan as they can look to use the Hardaway contract to take back more money.

Cunningham/Sasser
Hardaway/Beasley/Christie/Ivey
Thompson/Holland/Fontecchio
Harris/Reed/Klintman
Duren/Stewart

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Don’t see lakers being interested. They want defense.

[jayjaysee]

I’d find a third team willing to take on Vincent for seconds and a player making under 9 million and keep Christie in NOP personally. Not a need, but no reason you pay to dump him or lose him just to keep a couple seconds.

Chicago should do a deal around Carter/Duarte for Vincent/JRE/2nds or something. Maybe not intentionally, but Det is stealing value here. Christie is a 21 year old 2way wing on a small contract for 2 more years.. no reason to just dump him I don’t think?

LAL I’m not sure about. They get the best player. Definitely. But lose on value.

[SlimShady83]

Sorry don't see Lakers trading Max.

[axeman23]

If I were the Lakers, I wouldn't give up Hachimura for anything incoming here, let alone Christie.

[Kalamazoo317]

I like Max Christie, so happy to steal him in this deal. Not sure it makes sense for the Lakers, though.