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4 Lakers Teased as Next Potential Players to Be Traded

By Richard Louis

Jul 2, 2024; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka at a press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jul 2, 2024; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka at a press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The Los Angeles Lakers have LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing at a high level thus far into the season. While that is outstanding to see, the Lakers roster needs work.

The team isn't good enough to compete with the best of the best in the league. They know that and GM Rob Pelinka finally pulled the trigger on a deal before the year ended. On Dec. 29, the Lakers shipped guard D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.

That move gave the Lakers better defenders and more athleticism. That was a solid acquisition, but the team needs more. Los Angeles is still active in trade talks and the latest report reveals four players who are most likely to be included in a deal.

Lakers News: Four Players Are Named as Likely Candidates in Potential Trade

Per Evan Sidery of Forbes, Los Angeles remains active in trade talks. Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jalen Hood-Schifino are the players to watch.

Hachimura is the best player out of this group for the Lakers. He's fourth on the team in scoring (12.5) with 5.4 rebounds per game. While he is a solid player, Los Angeles needs more, both offensively and defensively, in the frontcourt. The Gonzaga product is making $17 million this season and is an intriguing player to include in a package.

Vincent signed a three-year, $33 million with the Lakers in 2023 but has been a bad signing. In 31 games this season, he averages 4.3 points and shoots 37% from the field. As for Vanderbilt, he has failed to step back on the floor since undergoing surgery on both feet this offseason.

The Kentucky product has the length and athleticism to be a great defender, but his offensive game is limited. He's making $10.7 million this season, and the Lakers are seeking to get his money off the books.

Meanwhile, Hood-Schifino has been a complete non-factor ever since being drafted in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. In his career with the Lakers, he logs 1.7 points and shoots 23% from the field.

The Lakers need to move off these guys and get more production into the building. All together, these guys make a combined $42.5 million. That is a large chunk of money that could bring in an All-Star caliber player.

Los Angeles is making calls around the league and these names are getting floated around. We'll have to see if anyone takes the bait but these guys may be playing elsewhere in 2025.

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