Lakers Rumors: Last minute trade deadline options
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers have struck out on Anthony Davis thus far but there are still Lakers rumors in the closing hours of the NBA Trade Deadline.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made one move prior to the NBA Trade Deadline thus far by adding sharpshooter Reggie Bullock to the team. Aside from that, the Los Angeles Lakers have not hit on any of the Lakers rumors that were surrounding the team.
The Anthony Davis trade fiasco has been nothing but a mess that arguably hurt the team more than it helped it with the entire young core knowing that they are expendable to the front office and LeBron James.
Was it malpractice by the Pelicans? Perhaps. Either way, this could hurt the Lakers’ chances of putting anything together to surprise people with a run this season.
That will not stop the front office from adding people during the NBA Trade Deadline and here some last-minute options that the Lakers should undoubtedly be considering with two hours left on the clock.
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Nikola Vucevic should be the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest target in the last two hours of the trade deadline and the team should even be willing to give up a first round pick, if they get a second-round pick in return, for Vucevic.
Vucevic has really come into his own this season, which is the last of his contract and is an all-star for the first time in his career. Orlando’s center is averaging 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and has already been in his fair share of Lakers rumors.
Jeremy Lin, Atlanta Hawks
The former member of the Los Angeles Lakers is in on an expiring contract with the Atlanta Hawks and is not doing much for a team that is giving the surplus of the minutes to rookie Trae Young.
With Lonzo Ball out it makes sense for the Lakers to try and add another point guard. With the addition of Bullock, the team can afford to swap Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a second-round pick for Lin.
Lin would serve as the backup for now until Ball comes back and would see his minutes shrink, however, I would rather see Lin getting those minutes than Lance Stephenson. Meanwhile, at shooting guard, the Lakers would have Bullock and Josh Hart taking up most the minutes with minimal minutes to Stephenson or perhaps even Lin once Ball returns.
Enes Kanter, New York Knicks
Enes Kanter would have a similar effect on the Los Angeles Lakers as Nikola Vucevic, although it would not be as big of an effect.
On the flipside, Kanter would cost nowhere near the price that Vucevic would. The New York Knicks are trying to tank anyways and Kanter is the second-most valuable trade chip they have at center at the deadline.
The Lakers might get away with pairing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a second-round pick for Kanter. If push comes to shove, the team can include a young asset like Moritz Wagner, or more preferably, Isaac Bonga.
Taj Gibson, Minnesota Timberwolves
Taj Gibson is not someone that has been in the Lakers rumors at all really but would be someone that the team would immensely benefit from adding.
Gibson is on an expiring contract so therein lies the incentive for the Timberwolves to deal him. Gibson would bring another veteran presence to the Lakers and would add depth to the frontcourt to lessen the load on Kyle Kuzma and LeBron James.
Gibson would fit in the rotation and would be a nice asset to have in the postseason. He can definitely hold his own on the offensive side of things, especially with LeBron as a teammate and would make the Lakers a better defensive team.
Next. Davis would be worth four picks. dark
Again, KCP and a second-round pick might be enough to get Taj Gibson, especially considering the Lakers would only get getting around 25 games of the veteran.