Rockets: 2 Jae'Sean Tate trade partners that make sense, 2 that don't
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1. Team that makes perfect sense: Los Angeles Lakers
The 2023-24 Los Angeles Lakers haven't exactly mirrored their finish last season as a team that reached the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers have been missing their best defensive forward in Jarred Vanderbilt, who has played in just 13 of 34 games.
Granted, they're still a very good defensive team by the numbers (9th in defensive efficiency), but that's been, in large part, because of Anthony Davis's brilliance on that end of the floor. And LeBron James' effort on that end of the floor, despite being the NBA's oldest active player.
Tate coud slide in at either forward spot for the Lake Show and could even operate as a small ball five. In addition, his shooting woes could possibly be somewhat remedied playing alongside LeBron James, who still has elite vision offensively, especially as a cutter.
And Lakers coach Darvin Ham's recent comments from earlier in the season indicate a team that knows what Tate brings to the table. Take a look for yourself.
"Jae'Sean Tate, man, is just a young bull. Like, he's just a Swiss Army knife and is just a bowling ball. He's tough. He plays a tough brand of defense."
Tate possesses playmaking chops that would be extremely useful for a Lakers team that doesn't exactly have an abundance of faciliatators (especially if they move Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell for a third star).
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