Lakers News: 2-Time LA Finals Rival Predicts Team Will Add 3rd Star Via Summer Trade

Who could he be talking about?

After not making any deals at the trade deadline, news broke that the Los Angeles Lakers would be taking their focus to the summer to acquire a third-star player. 

They have been searching for a third star to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and the team will be armed with multiple draft picks this offseason to make it potentially happen. 

While making an appearance on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show, NBA analyst and former NBA center, Kendrick Perkins made a bold claim about the Lakers bringing in another star. He didn't fully guarantee it would happen, but he sounded fairly confident that a move would take place.

"The Lakers need to get through this season because another superstar is on the way this summer..

He's the perfect fit for Anthony Davis and LeBron James" ~ @KendrickPerkins #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/OjiKHNapZm

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 15, 2024

Perkins didn't mention who the star would be, leaving it open to interpretation. But the way that he described the player, it sounded very similar to Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks. 

Young has been linked with the Lakers for some time now, and there have been numerous reports signaling that Atlanta will look to move him this summer. The point guard could provide Los Angeles with a special offensive player alongside James and Davis, especially with his impressive three-point shooting.

He would make the Lakers offense lethal in pick and rolls with Davis, giving in to the "perfect fit" that Perkins mentioned. Young could help ease things as the team heads into the post-James era soon as well. 

If Young isn't the player that Perkins was talking about, it could also be Kyrie Irving from the Dallas Mavericks, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers or possibly someone nobody has an idea about. The NBA is consistently having star players ask out at random times so someone could become available.

Either way, the Lakers may be loading up this summer. Perkins has never been afraid to share his opinion about things in the past, but he seemed confident in his reporting here.