As per usual, the Lakers are right at the epicenter of NBA trade rumors. No team has a more extensive history of making splashy trades for big name players, often at the expense of the team’s draft capital. The way that the NBA landscape has unfolded this season fosters the perfect environment for one, if not multiple, big trades to be facilitated before the February 6th trade deadline.
As fate would have it, multiple superstars are in position to be a dealt to a new team within the coming weeks. Both Jimmy Butler and De’Aaron Fox have been subject to widespread trade speculation and, unsurprisingly, the Lakers have been linked as a team to watch.
Aside from the multiple high-profile players that could potentially be moved, it’s hard to argue that it’s not an ideal time for the Lakers to go all-out to make a major move. L.A. currently sits 5th in the Western Conference with a record of 20-15. They have won 8 of their last 12 games and sit only 3 games behind the 2nd seed in the West which is occupied by the Houston Rockets at this moment.
The bottom line is that the West is pretty open beyond the top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder who have won 15 games in a row. As they are currently constructed, the Lakers are too reliant on LeBron James and Anthony Davis to be a legitimate championship contender, but that could all change if they find a way to bring in a third star—even if they have to surrender a combination of role players and draft picks to get it done. LeBron is not getting any younger and Anthony Davis is in the prime of his career. The Lakers owe it to both of them to surround them with a roster that is capable of contending.
Jimmy Butler
The events of recent days have made it quite likely that Jimmy Butler will be traded in the near future. While the Lakers are not currently listed as a favorite to land Butler, they could certainly use a player of his caliber if they are to be in a position of relevancy when the playoffs begin in April. Many of the current rumors list teams like the Rockets, Warriors, and others as the most likely options to trade for Butler.
De’Aaron Fox
Of all the names that the Lakers have been connected to, De’Aaron Fox makes the most sense for a plethora of reasons. For one, Fox is exactly the type of player that is missing from their roster. The Lakers’ roster lacks speed and athleticism, while also needing a considerable boost at the point guard position. Fox provides an answer to all of those needs. He is also a player that is capable of being a long-term star in Los Angeles. LeBron has already made it clear that he does not know how much longer he will play, leaving many looming questions as to what the Lakers’ future will look like once he has retired. Adding De’Aaron Fox to the team would not only give L.A. an elite big three for, presumably, a few seasons, it would also offer them a building block for the post-LeBron era.
It is not clear right now as to whether or not the Kings are actually interested in moving De’Aaron Fox, but all indications are that a trade could be in the cards. Sacramento recently fired their head coach and could be in position to make more major changes since their position in the standings is less than ideal.
Other Potential Targets
Zach LaVine has been listed as a potential trade target for the Lakers for quite some time. The Bulls remain in a position of mediocrity, just as they have been for the majority of LaVine’s career. Chicago has not won a playoff series since 2015—LaVine’s rookie season. It is possible that LaVine will opt for a new challenge sooner or later.
Another name to watch is Jonas Valančiūnas of the Washington Wizards. The Wizards are guaranteed to be sellers at the trade deadline, while the Lakers could use reinforcements to their frontcourt. A trade for Valančiūnas would not be of the same magnitude as a trade for one of the other names listed; although, it would not be surprising if the Lakers opted to go for smaller scale moves rather than a big shake-up. Just over a week ago, L.A. traded D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. It is possible we will see them make a similar move to this in the coming weeks or maybe no moves at all. Nevertheless, they have an opportunity to become a contender if they can find a way to add another star player.
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