$212 Million 3-and-D Star Named Lakers’ Offseason Trade Target

OG Anunoby has long been one of the NBA’s most coveted two-way wings, and a new analysis suggests the Los Angeles Lakers could pursue him this offseason if circumstances break their way.

In a recent offseason preview for Bleacher Report, NBA analyst Dan Favale listed Anunoby among the Lakers’ most intriguing potential trade targets as the franchise searches for upgrades on the wing.

Favale noted that prying Anunoby away from the New York Knicks would be difficult under normal circumstances. But a larger blockbuster scenario involving Giannis Antetokounmpo could open the door for Los Angeles to enter the conversation as a facilitator.

Bleacher Report’s Analyst Suggests Lakers Could Target OG Anunoby

GettyLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks.

Favale argued that the Lakers should closely monitor developments around the Knicks and Bucks, particularly if Antetokounmpo’s long-rumored interest in New York resurfaces.

“OG Anunoby isn’t going anywhere unless the New York Knicks luck into Giannis Antetokounmpo,” Favale wrote. “Knowing the two-time MVP showed exclusive interest in the Big Apple last summer, the Lakers should hold out hope for the chance to swoop in as a third-party facilitator who sends draft equity the Milwaukee Bucks’ way.”

According to Favale, Los Angeles could theoretically assemble the salary pieces needed to complete such a trade without sacrificing its long-term flexibility.

“If they play their cards right, they have enough ancillary money—Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton (player option), Marcus Smart (player option)—to complete a lopsided deal without nuking all of their cap space,” Favale wrote.

Anunoby is entering the third season of the five-year, $212.5 million contract he signed with the Knicks in 2024. He is scheduled to earn $42.5 million next season.

Lakers Still Searching for a True Two-Way Wing

The Lakers’ reported interest in a player like Anunoby reflects one of the most glaring needs on their roster: a versatile perimeter defender capable of guarding elite scorers while spacing the floor offensively.

Los Angeles attempted to address that archetype during the 2025 NBA Draft when general manager Rob Pelinka aggressively maneuvered to select forward Adou Thiero.

Pelinka orchestrated a pair of draft-night trades to move nearly 20 spots up the board—from No. 55 to No. 36 overall—to land Thiero.

“We were super aggressive to begin the day knowing that we didn’t have a first-round pick,” Pelinka told Spectrum SportsNet after the 2025 NBA Draft. “Adou was projected by our scouts as a first-round talent, and we were able to turn 55, which is a late second-round pick, into a high second-round pick to select a player we had projected in the first round.”

Pelinka even compared Thiero’s defensive profile to Anunoby’s, highlighting the type of player the Lakers hope to develop.

“Obviously, OG is an incredible player who’s done so much in the league,” Pelinka said. “I don’t want to put pressure on anyone to become someone else, but that archetype is definitely it.”

Why OG Anunoby Remains a Coveted 3-and-D Star

While the Lakers hope Thiero eventually develops into that mold, Anunoby already represents one of the league’s most established two-way wings.

The 28-year-old is averaging 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals this season while shooting 36.7 percent from three-point range.

A career 37.4 percent shooter from deep and a frequent presence near the top of the NBA’s steals leaderboard, Anunoby is widely regarded as one of the league’s premier “3-and-D” specialists—players capable of defending multiple positions while providing reliable perimeter shooting.

Those attributes would be especially valuable for a Lakers team built around high-usage offensive creators such as Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

Los Angeles has struggled at times to hide defensive weaknesses in its backcourt, increasing the importance of long, versatile defenders on the wing.

A Complicated Trade Scenario

Whether the Lakers could realistically land Anunoby remains uncertain. The Knicks view him as a cornerstone defender, and moving him would likely require a seismic roster change, such as a blockbuster pursuit of Antetokounmpo.

Still, Favale’s analysis underscores how aggressively the Lakers could explore roster upgrades this summer.

If the right multi-team opportunity arises, the franchise may once again find itself pursuing the same archetype Pelinka highlighted on draft night — an elite two-way wing it has been chasing all along.

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