The Kevin Durant trade saga just keeps growing, and now the Los Angeles Lakers have become a surprising part of the story. As speculation swirls around a possible seven-team deal, the Lakers’ role remains unclear to most fans.
With the league’s trade moratorium set to end on Sunday, July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET, all eyes are on what could become the biggest trade in NBA history. Insiders are offering new details, and the latest updates suggest the Lakers may not be as central to the blockbuster as some might expect.
Trevor Lane Suggests Lakers Are Finalizing Adou Thiero Trade in the Mega-Deal
According to The Athletic’s Fred Katz, the Lakers are among seven teams potentially involved in a record-setting trade centered on Kevin Durant’s move to Houston. The other six teams are the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, and Atlanta Hawks. This group includes a mix of front offices, some with championship experience and others in the middle of rebuilds.
While fans might imagine a flurry of big names and major salary swaps, NBA insider Trevor Lane has a different take. Lane believes the Lakers’ part in the deal is more about paperwork than adding star power. “My guess, since MIN is involved in the rumored seven-team trade and only five players who were in the NBA last season (none are Lakers), is that LA’s potential involvement is just finalizing the trade for Adou Thiero,” Lane wrote.
My guess, since MIN is involved in the rumored 7 team trade and only 5 players who were in the NBA last season (none are Lakers), is that LA’s potential involvement is just finalizing the trade for Adou Thiero
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) July 3, 2025
Lane’s insight helps clarify a situation that has left many fans and analysts puzzled. Katz has also noted that there’s no new star movement imminent, so it’s possible the Lakers are just tying up loose ends rather than making major roster changes.
Still, the Lakers’ offseason needs are well known. They could use more depth behind new center Deandre Ayton and are looking for help on the wing, whether that means defenders, shooters, or young, athletic players who can keep up with a Luka Dončić-led offense. For now, though, it seems the Lakers’ main contribution to the trade is simply making sure the deal for Thiero is completed.
On June 26, the Lakers selected Arkansas wing Adou Thiero with the 36th pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. The pick was acquired from the Timberwolves in a quiet deal that sent the No. 45 pick and cash the other way.
Thiero brings energy and upside to a team that wants to get younger and more athletic. He is a hard-working wing who can make an impact on both ends of the floor, and the front office clearly believes he fits the mold they want as they reshape the roster around Dončić.
If Lane’s prediction is correct, the Lakers are using the expanded Durant deal as a way to finalize the earlier Thiero trade. This is a common practice during the offseason, especially when teams are working to fit everything under complex salary cap rules.
While a seven-team trade sounds wild, not every team involved is making major moves, and the Lakers appear to be playing a smaller role than fans might have expected.
