The Los Angeles Lakers are taking their time.
On Jan. 23 of last season, the always-entertaining-at-the-deadline team made their first of many moves destined to reshape their roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, trading away Kendrick Nunn and some draft capital for Rui Hachimura.
They then went all-in, flipping former MVP Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade that netted them Malik Beasley, D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The Lakers have sputtered to a 23-23 start, firmly in the battle for the play-in as the ninth seed. A less than ideal record despite James and Davis only having missed a combined seven games, the lowest mark in their time in Los Angeles.
“I don’t play fantasy basketball,” James said last Wednesday when asked about what moves could be ahead for his team. “What I do is focus on the guys that are here in uniform and show up to work every day. It’s too disrespectful to be thinking about what we need, what we don’t have.”
However, should they want to make the most of what they’ve got left of James, and considering the ageless wonder is in the final year of an extension should he choose to decline his $51 million play option, the Lakers need to think about what they need.
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Lakers are weighing three different paths: Going all-in, making incremental changes around the edges, or standing pat. What could those three options look like?
Well, standing pat is self-explanatory. The team could see how far this core could take them, and with the in-season tournament win under their belt, there may be confidence within the organization that this team as constructed has enough when the games matter most.
As for incremental changes, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that the Lakers have an interest in trading for Dennis Schroder and Bruce Brown from the Toronto Raptors.
With free agent signing Gabe Vincent set to miss up to another month after undergoing knee surgery, the Lakers have a hole at backup point guard that could be remedied by a reunion with Schroder who has had two separate stints with the organization in 2020-21 and 2022-23.
According to McMenamin, they could be interested in bringing in Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton who is averaging 17.4 points on strong .489/.380/.886 splits, largely off the bench. They’re also looking at Washington Wizards guard Tyus Jones, who ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said is the “most likely” Wizard to be traded.
As for all-in moves, the biggest name left on the trade market seems to be Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, and according to reports from Buha and Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers are firmly in contention for his services, with the latter going so far as to say that they’ve “made the most aggressive known bid to date for Murray,” and have been “willing to include a 2029 first-round pick plus a pick swap.”
All it would take for salaries to match on the deal would be sending Russell the other way, however, the Lakers guard has been on a tear of late since returning to the starting lineup on Jan. 13, averaging 27.4 points on .538/.531/.889 splits while dishing out 6.6 assists a game.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania also reported that should the Lakers send Russell away, it’s expected that the Hawks reroute the guard to a third team.
LaVine stuck in limbo
When you sign a player to a five-year, $215 million deal more to not lose him than to actually build around him, chances are that contract will look like an albatross as the situation progresses evermore towards blowing it up.
As it stands, the suitors for Zach LaVine and his massive deal are few and far between, with many teams unwilling to swallow the pill of retaining him until 2025-26 (with a player option in 2026-27) for upwards of $40 million per year.
The Lakers and Sixers, who were both named as potential options in the fall when rumours began swirling, are reportedly not engaged in discussions for the two-time all-star according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times and Charania respectively.
Instead, a surprise team has joined the mix with the Detroit Pistons reportedly engaging in conversation with the Bulls about LaVine. According to The Athletic’s James Edwards III, Chicago was interested in a package built around wing Bojan Bogdanovic and one of the Pistons’ ‘blue-chippers,’: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson or Jalen Duren.
However, the Pistons have no interest in parting with any of those four players and turned down a similar offer from the Atlanta Hawks for Dejounte Murray.
However, talks are ongoing and the Pistons, despite their horrendous league-low 5-39 record, could be a player as they look to go anywhere but further down.
With only $74 million of guaranteed money on the books next season, the penny-pinching Pistons would have ample space to absorb LaVine’s contract and hope that the high-flying guard helps Cunningham and Ivey take the next step.
What to do about the mushy-middle?
Directionless would be a stretch, but the grouping of teams seeded nine through thirteen in the East have significantly more questions than answers regarding the upcoming trade deadline.
We’ve touched on the Atlanta Hawks (18-27) and the Chicago Bulls (21-25), with both teams likely to explore the trade market to trade the closest thing to stars left on the market in Murray and LaVine respectively.
Rumours have begun circulating around defensive stud Alex Caruso and it’s been reported by Jake Fischer that they’re looking for multiple first-round picks in exchange for him.
Further down the standings, the Brooklyn Nets seem to be at an impasse, as their team is nowhere near good enough to make noise and tanking could be pointless as they don’t own their own draft pick this year.
However, without many ways to improve this season, they’ve emerged as a candidate to sell off a few of their role-players including Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Sacramento Kings could be a team to watch out for in the Finney-Smith sweepstakes after missing out on potential deals for the Raptors’ OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. Meanwhile, the Suns have shown interest in O’Neale according to Fischer.
Next up is the Toronto Raptors (16-29) who have lost eight of their last ten and sit in 12th in the East. Though the big pieces have already moved, more could be on the horizon with the frequent names being Bruce Brown, Gary Trent Jr. and Chris Boucher, though potential landing spots are still anyone’s guess.
Fast Breaks
– With the forward approaching unrestricted free agency, the Charlotte Hornets’ Miles Bridges has reportedly been a target for the Phoenix Suns, according to PHNX Sports writer Gerald Bourguet. He also mentioned that Hornets big man Nick Richards could be in the mix.
– Per Fischer, the Lakers, Kicks and Rockets have been talking to the Portland Trail Blazers about reigning Sixth-Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, with the Rockets reportedly also looking at acquiring injured big man Robert Williams III, both of which were acquired in the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics.
– The Knicks could look to upgrade their depth at the five with Mitchell Robinson’s status still in the air regarding whether or not he can make a return late in the season. Ian Begley from SNY said that the white-hot Knicks could be looking at Daniel Gafford of the Wizards, in a deal sending Quentin Grimes the other way.
from Sportsnet.ca
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