The Los Angeles Lakers (20-10) boast elite star power in the backcourt with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but the depth behind them remains a concern.
Marcus Smart brings defensive toughness and versatility, yet the second unit lacks a true scoring guard who can consistently stretch the floor. While Dončić and Reaves have often masked that issue, the offense tends to stall when both are off the floor. A recent mock trade proposes a move that could directly address that weakness.
Lakers Projected to Ship Rui Hachimura in Mock Trade for Backcourt Help
The Lakers impressively opened the season but have stumbled through December, exposing several weaknesses. Defensive consistency has waned, three-point shooting has been unreliable, and when Dončić, Reaves, and LeBron James head to the bench, the offense often stalls.
That urgency has only increased with Reaves expected to miss nearly a month due to a calf strain. In response, Sports Illustrated’s Eric Sparlazza proposed a mock trade involving the Lakers and the Sacramento Kings that would bring in guards Malik Monk and Keon Ellis.
Kings Receive: Top 18 protected 1st Round Pick, Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht.
Lakers Receive: Malik Monk, Keon Ellis
Monk previously spent the 2021–22 season with the Lakers before joining Sacramento. He’s currently in the second year of a four-year, $77.9 million contract and is earning just over $8 million this season. Ellis, meanwhile, has spent his entire career with the Kings and is playing on a team-friendly three-year, $5.1 million deal.
“It’s no secret that the Lakers haven’t looked like a championship contender as of late, “Sperlazza wrote. “Los Angeles is 25th in defensive rating this season, and that just isn’t good enough even when you have Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, and LeBron James on the roster. Additionally, the Lakers are 23rd in three-point percentage, which makes life a lot harder for their three premier playmakers.”
“This is where Monk and Ellis can make a difference. Monk can slot into a bench unit that desperately needs a boost if the Lakers are going to compete with the likes of Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the loaded Western Conference.”
“His shooting and secondary playmaking could be just what the Lakers are missing in the minutes that two of Reaves, Doncic, or James are off the court, and Monk could help keep the team afloat with Reaves set to miss at least a month with a calf strain.”
Both Monk and Ellis have reportedly been discussed in trade circles, with Ellis named explicitly as a Lakers target by NBA insider Brett Siegel. While Hachimura hasn’t been widely mentioned in rumors, his inconsistent production has made him a potential trade piece.
If completed, the deal could significantly reshape the Lakers’ rotation. Monk, averaging 12.1 points per game while shooting 40.7% from three, would provide instant offense off the bench. Ellis would bring perimeter defense and energy, helping address some of Los Angeles’ ongoing issues on that end of the floor.
For a team searching for answers, this type of move could represent a meaningful step toward stabilizing both the rotation and the season.
