Huyongying tripartite transaction, Capela assists Dongzhan and Fan Debiao to Jinzhou and Kumingga to play Yang

According to US sports media F/W contributor Sidante Gupta. The 2024-25 season has proven to be an interesting season for the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks. However, it does show each team the imminent flaws in their efforts to build a competitive roster. After some steady play in the regular season, the Lakers and Warriors were beaten by the Minnesota Timberwolves in subsequent rounds and were eliminated from the playoffs. The derivative learning of each team is similar. The Lakers were exposed after losing the game for lack of reliable big man rotations. Meanwhile, the Warriors managed to deal with it to some extent. But Stephen Curry was out of the spot due to injury, coupled with their limited defense on the outside, was exploited in the semifinals.

Atlanta State is very different in this regard. The Hawks have another unqualified season. After losing to the Orlando Magic in the final, it was clear that the Hawks' roster was seriously lacking in star power. Despite their star Trae Young’s personal excellence, the team couldn’t unite around him to help the team get a playoff spot. Awareness of these three factors suggests that each team has a goal that needs to be achieved during the offseason. With that in mind, let’s look at a sensational three-team trade proposal that can solve each team’s problems and turn them into a more competitive team:

Hawks: Kumingga, Vincent

Warriors: Vanderbilt, Lakers No. 55 draft pick, 2028 first-round draft pick (from the Hawks), 2030 second-round draft pick (from the Hawks)

Lakers: Capela, Mann

Hawks won star Kumingga partner Trae Young to build a playoff lineup again. One of the biggest problems with the Warriors entering the playoffs this season is their lack of depth on the outside. Many times the Warriors find themselves not playing big enough in more cases. Golden State Warriors' tactics have been driven by small balls, but discovered this against the Timberwolves. This made the Warriors understand that they needed to add depth in almost every position. While the team has been linked to several players who can achieve this, even superstars, the acquisition of Jared Vanderbilt could be a solid start in that direction.

Vanderbilt often takes on the task of defending the opposing team's best player. His height and athleticism allow him to switch and defend multiple positions seamlessly. He also has an impressive defensive instinct, which allows him to close the pass route and steal the ball. He also recorded a reasonable 5.1 rebounds per game, giving him the option of getting the ball and loose ball at the basket. In addition to Vanderbilt, the Warriors also gained some much-needed draft capital. These include the Lakers’ 55th overall pick in this year’s draft, and the Hawks’ 2028 first-round pick and 2030 second-round pick. The 2028 first-round pick may prove promising as it provides some flexibility for the team to do some building in the draft. On the other hand, having more assets gives the Warriors some freedom while gaining more talent through trades in case they decide to rebuild. One of the biggest problems the Lakers face in the regular season and in the playoffs is their lack of a qualified center. While they barely have young people like Jaxson Hayes, it’s clear that this team doesn’t have the kind of center that can make an impact. The Lakers' intention to acquire a big man in the offseason became clear almost immediately after they were eliminated. Due to this approach, the team also established contacts with several candidates. But such transactions may help solve their immediate problems.

Acquisition of Clint Capela will create miracles for the Lakers' frontcourt rotation. Capela is a solid traditional big man, the kind that the Purple and Gold Legion needs. He is a powerful rebounder and efficient scorer at the rim. He averaged 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds last season, but he didn’t treat him fairly as his average playing time dropped to 21.4 minutes per game. When pairing with Luca Doncic for a pick-and-roll, Capela can easily slide from the pick-and-roll into the dunker's position, allowing Doncic to freely find options on the outside. The Hawks center also helps increase the Lakers’ rebounding stats, which took a huge blow in the series against Minnesota. The only downside to signing Capela is that he is 31 years old. Additionally, it could be a bit risky for the Lakers considering he was injured and missed the final stage of the regular season. Another piece that Los Angeles will receive in the proposed deal is Trans Mann. Mann didn't help much with scoring, except for limited outside shots and slashes. However, his advantage lies in his defensive aspects. His regular season average of 7.7 points, shooting 49.6% from the field and 36.8% from outside the 3-point line, clearly expressing what the team expects from him. Mann showed a lot of talent as a two-way player and outside defender. This may be important to the Lakers as they abandoned Vanderbilt in this deal. Mann has three years left on his contract, and his annual salary is $15.5 million, and he is not the most expensive signing either.