For many NBA fans, the league’s annual trade deadline marks one of the most exciting dates on the season calendar. The often wild day is typically filled with both notable, and small moves, that in some instances leave huge aftershocks.

Last year, the Lakers traded Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr at the deadline in an essential salary dump, paving even more room for one LeBron James, and potentially another star next July.

This season, the team still clearly wants to preserve future spending for an aforementioned second max caliber player, but also will likely look to improve this current roster.

Los Angeles has spiraled ever since the injury bug once again hit them with vicious ferocity. Yet, even prior to the rash of injuries, there were genuine question marks surrounding the team, and whether or not if improvements would come in-house or in the form of outside help at the deadline.

To best understand the type of player the Lakers should hypothetically target via a trade, it is first necessary to understand their weaknesses.

Based on BBall-Index’s “Team Strengths/Weaknesses” data, the Lakers’ biggest team weaknesses this season include Perimeter Shooting and offensive skills (Playmaking/One-on-One) specifically from their “Bigs.”

The team’s struggles on offense have been a nagging issue all season, while their defense continues to surge. Constructed of several playmaking options, but little spacing threats, the team has simply struggled in finding points.

Currently ranked 28th in this site’s Perimeter Shooting metric, finding reliable floor spacing seems like the clearest point of emphasis in improving the scoreboard math. Ironically enough, one name that could possibly help in that regard is in fact a former Laker.

Trevor Ariza

There is no secret the Lakers have had interest in Trevor Ariza. The sturdy wing was nearly acquired by the team earlier this season before he was eventually shipped to Washington. For the Wizards, who are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference as of this article, they could possibly look to part ways with the veteran if they fall further back in the playoff race.

Ariza is not a perfect player by any means. A glance at at his player grades this season (shown above) exemplifies this, but does identify a continued ability to make threes. Now 33, Ariza has graded out in the 89th percentile of the league in Perimeter Shooting thus far, while that dips compared to wings, it is still rather effective.

The biggest area where Ariza’s shooting could come in handy is his simple, but necessary, ability to make his open looks. According to NBA’s tracking data, Ariza is converting his wide-open 3-point attempts (with six or more feet of space) at a 47.1 percent clip this season. Which would be an especially useful skill to have next to James. That “A” grade in playmaking is also a nifty asset.

Ariza also offers up better positional size defensively than current Lakers’ wings. Although grading out to be an about average defender, Ariza’s size and reputation could pay dividends in a playoff setting when it comes to checking elite wings and in the minds of referees.

The Lakers’ struggles from the perimeter this season is a roster-wide issue as the team is devoid of reputable spacing from their wings, and in the front court. An area these next two players could immediately assist in.

Dewayne Dedmon

A now staple in the “quality bigs” category, Atlanta big man Dewayne Dedmon, could be one the most likely players traded by the February deadline. The Hawks will likely be one of the few sellers in the league as their intentions have turned to going young, and will presumably look to ship out their non-rookie contacts for future draft capital. Dedmon falling in the latter category.

The center is having an awesome year from behind the arc with an impressive 38.2 percent efficiency and his most 3-point attempts per game (3.1) in his career thus far. His player grades, specifically when filtered to see how he measures up beside other “bigs,” displays this as he ranks in the 90th percentile in Perimeter Shooting this season.

The Lakers are woefully lacking any spacing threats from their center spot this season with the likes of JaVale McGee, Tyson Chandler and Ivica Zubac after the departure of Brook Lopez this past summer making Dedmon’s 38.7 percent shooting on catch and shoot threes a nice fit.

Although not offering assistance in the team’s big’s weakness in Playmaking and in One on One, it is worth pointing Dedmon’s solid defensive talent grades out which pairs usefully with some capable rebounding abilities.

In theory, Dedmon would fill the 7” foot hole Lopez left on the perimeter, and make for a really solid half court addition/asset for the Lakers’ playmakers in pick and pops and spotting up.

Dedmon is not the sole big though who would be a nice fit for the Lakers, as there is potentially a younger player on the market who can also offer a variety of needed skills, if not more.

Noah Vonleh

The New York Knicks bought a semi-used lottery ticket on the former top-ten pick this past summer and luckily hit. After floundering a bit with injuries and production, the former Trailblazer rejuvenated his career with the Knicks this year in startling fashion.

His Talent Grades (left) reveal a genuinely intriguing skill-set in the form of a still 23-year-old player heading into free-agency. Standing at 6’9″ with a 7’4″ wingspan, Vonleh fits the similarly useful lanky archetype ala Jerami Grant, and Justin Holiday.

For the Lakers, the appeal in Vonleh starts with the Perimeter Shooting, which he has been nothing short of elite this season.

Although the volume is still low (two attempts a game) Vonleh is drilling his 3-point looks at a 40.2 percent clip, and is in the 94.4 percentile among bigs this season.

Vonleh has also converted his 84 catch and shoot chances from deep this season at nearly a 43 percent rate, which is a highly appealing attribute to have lingering around the perimeter as James draws extra defenders to him.

While Dedmon is no slouch in his own shooting ability, Vonleh also offers another aformentioned need among the Lakers’ bigs — One on One scoring (“A-” grade).

With his combination of size, and agile feet, Vonleh also brings with him the potential of a player who could in theory defend multiple positions, which coupled with his spacing ability, makes for one of the more sought after player archetypes in the league.

While it remains to be seen if the Lakers would take on another young player with a roster already full of them, if Vonleh is acquired and produces, he has flashed the tools to potentially be the team’s next diamond in the rough.

*Stats provided by NBA.com unless otherwise noted | Featured image provided by Aidan Lising.