The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are exploring a major trade that could address key weaknesses for both teams ahead of the next NBA season. With ongoing Josh Hart trade rumors between Lakers and Knicks, this potential deal centers on strengthening defensive and offensive balance, while bringing a much-needed seven-footer to LA’s roster.
How Both Teams Could Benefit from Addressing Their Weaknesses
The Lakers’ early exit in the first round of the playoffs highlighted their lack of defensive strength and inadequate center depth, issues that limited their postseason success. Meanwhile, the Knicks are facing a potential end to their conference finals run due to insufficient scoring beyond their top three players—Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby. New York struggles to find reliable shot creators outside this trio, hindering their offensive versatility.
Los Angeles possesses dependable scorers in Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. Although these players have defensive shortcomings, the Lakers’ roster carries more balanced scoring options. Adding versatile defenders and a strong rebounder could further strengthen their squad.
Given these dynamics, the Lakers and Knicks may emerge as logical trade partners this summer. New York offers defensive depth, while the Lakers hold excess offensive resources. A trade involving Josh Hart and Rui Hachimura could exchange these qualities to mutual advantage.
Proposed Trade Details Centered on Josh Hart and Rui Hachimura
Rui Hachimura served as the Lakers’ fourth scoring option this season, averaging 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds with efficient shooting percentages, including 41.3% from three-point range. During the playoffs, Hachimura maintained consistent contributions, posting 14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, shooting nearly 50% from beyond the arc. However, his offensive opportunities are limited when sharing the floor with dominant ball-handlers such as Doncic, James, and Reaves, as he thrives best in post-isolation settings. Additionally, Hachimura’s defensive role overlaps with other Lakers stars, making him expendable as the team looks to improve rebounding and defense around its core players.
Josh Hart, on the other hand, averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists during the regular season, shooting 52.5%. His playoff performance dipped slightly, with 12.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and a 40% three-point shooting rate. Nevertheless, Hart struggled during the conference finals, losing his starting position and declining in offensive efficiency under increased defensive pressure, all while averaging 2.3 turnovers as a secondary ball-handler and fourth scoring option. The Knicks’ shortage of reliable shot creators forces Hart into a larger offensive role than ideally suited for his skill set, suggesting challenges for long-term fit.
Key Player Exchanges and Draft Picks in the Proposed Deal
The trade structure under consideration would send Josh Hart, Miles McBride, and Mitchell Robinson to the Lakers, offering them much-needed defensive presence and rebounding in Robinson, along with Hart’s versatility and McBride’s defensive capabilities. Meanwhile, the Knicks would receive Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and potentially other role players to bolster their offense and depth.
Miles McBride, extension eligible, may be moved by New York due to significant salary commitments to Brunson, Towns, Anunoby, and Bridges. Gabe Vincent contributes valuable bench scoring, offense versatility, and reliable shooting. Additionally, the Wizards are involved through the inclusion of draft assets; they would acquire Dalton Knecht along with draft picks rerouted through the trade. This maneuver benefits Washington by adding a young shooter after finishing near the bottom league-wide in three-point accuracy last season.
The Knicks would also obtain the 40th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft from the Wizards, as well as a 2026 first-round pick swap with the Lakers, adding valuable future draft capital. For the Lakers, securing Mitchell Robinson would fill a glaring weakness at center, addressing their struggles with defensive coverage and rebounding. McBride would provide a point-of-attack defensive presence crucial for guarding opposing backcourts.
Potential Impact and Strategic Significance for Lakers and Knicks
If finalized, this trade could significantly reshape the Lakers and Knicks rosters by exchanging offensive and defensive strengths to better fit each team’s needs. The Lakers gain a seven-foot defensive anchor in Robinson and improve their defensive versatility on the perimeter with McBride, complementing their elite scorers. For the Knicks, acquiring Hachimura and Vincent provides additional scoring options and shooting, easing pressure on their top scorers to generate offense single-handedly.
This deal also reflects broader strategic considerations about balancing salary commitments and roster construction, with both franchises weighing long-term development against immediate competitiveness. For the Lakers, improving their interior defense could address their playoff vulnerabilities, while the Knicks would enhance offensive flexibility crucial for advancing deeper in the postseason.
With NBA teams constantly adjusting rosters to respond to shifting competitive landscapes, the Josh Hart trade rumors between Lakers and Knicks demonstrate how two franchises can collaborate to address complementary weaknesses in pursuit of better outcomes in the upcoming season.