The Lakers had a chance to address one of their most glaring weaknesses - perimeter shooting - and they let it slip through their fingers. Kevin Huerter, while not having his sharpest season from deep, was the kind of low-risk, high-upside addition that could have made a real difference in Los Angeles. Instead, he’s headed to Detroit as part of a multi-team deal that also involves Chicago and Minnesota.
Here’s how the trade shakes out: Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. are on their way to the Bulls, while the Pistons receive Huerter, Dario Saric, and a 2026 protected first-round swap from Minnesota. For Detroit, it’s a savvy move - they get a proven shooter who can thrive alongside Cade Cunningham, and they didn’t have to give up any core young pieces to do it.
For the Lakers, it’s a missed opportunity.
Let’s not sugarcoat it - Los Angeles needs shooting. Badly.
With Luka Doncic at the helm, the blueprint is simple: surround him with guys who can space the floor and knock down open looks. Right now, the Lakers just aren’t doing that.
They’re hitting 35.1% from three this season - middle of the pack - but what’s even more telling is their volume. Just 34.1 attempts per game, 23rd in the league.
That’s not going to cut it in today’s NBA, especially not with a heliocentric playmaker like Doncic running the show.
That’s where Huerter could’ve helped. Yes, he’s in a slump - shooting just 31.4% from deep this season over 44 games with the Bulls.
But this is an eight-year vet with a career average north of 37% from three. That kind of track record doesn’t just vanish overnight.
Players like Huerter, who’ve consistently proven they can shoot, often bounce back - especially when placed in the right system with a star who can create clean looks. And Doncic is as good as it gets at doing just that.
Financially, Huerter wasn’t a bad fit either. He’s making close to $18 million in the final year of a four-year, $65 million deal originally signed with Sacramento.
That’s not a bargain, but it’s also not a long-term commitment. For the Lakers, who are trying to thread the needle between staying competitive now and keeping flexibility for the summer, Huerter would’ve been a smart rental.
A player who could help right away, without tying up future cap space.
Instead, he’s going to be spacing the floor in Detroit - a team that’s building something intriguing around Cunningham and clearly values shooters who can complement their young star. Meanwhile, the Lakers are still searching for answers, still trying to find reliable perimeter threats to unlock Doncic’s full potential.
This wasn’t a blockbuster move. It didn’t require mortgaging the future or reshaping the roster.
It was a chance to make a subtle but meaningful upgrade. And the Lakers passed.
Now, they’ll watch from the sidelines as Huerter helps another team - one in the Eastern Conference, sure, but potentially a playoff factor - while Los Angeles continues to hope that internal improvements or another deal can fill the shooting void.
In a season where the margins are razor-thin, sometimes it’s the moves you don’t make that come back to haunt you.