The Los Angeles Lakers have a knack for finding themselves linked to numerous NBA players in trade rumors, and that has once again been the case this latest cycle as they hope to upgrade their roster ahead of the February 5th trade deadline.
Barring the potential of a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the team’s trade package and actual chance of landing the star has yet to be seen following Shams Charania’s report on him wanting out of Milwaukee, the Lakers appear out of the race for Herb Jones and Trey Murphy of the New Orleans Pelicans, two names they’ve been linked to for a while.
However, with an Antetokounmpo future uncertain, and the two 3-and-D players likely out of reach, the Lakers have a new list of names they are expected to target in the short time they have left before the trade deadline.
Lakers New Top Trade Targets
Writing for the LA Times, both Broderick Turner and Thuc Nhi Nguyen brought up a few new names the Lakers are expected to target in hopes of adding defense and shooting around Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and the rest of the roster.
“The names that have been attached to the Lakers as potential trade targets are Dallas’ Naji Marshall, a former Doncic teammate, Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter, Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo and Sacramento’s Keon Ellis,” the two wrote.
“New Orleans’ Troy Murphy III and Herbert Jones are two players the Lakers have shown some interest in — as have many other teams — but NBA people say the asking price is so high that teams are waiting to see if that comes down by the deadline next week.”
Hunter and Ellis aren’t new to the list, but Marshall and DiVincenzo are new and intriguing targets for the Lakers to go after. However, both have proven extremely valuable to their current teams, so regardless of what Los Angeles would give up, those two remain unlikely.
It’s the same case with Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets, who, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Lakers have also been eyeing recently. He recently won Player of the Week, and has been a major help for Denver while Nikola Jokic is sidelined with a knee injury. The idea of adding Watson over the summer, rather than before the trade deadline, remains way more likely.
“It must be said, though, that rival executives are increasingly curious about Denver’s likely struggles to retain Peyton Watson this summer given the fourth-year swingman’s recent
“We’ll certainly be tracking this situation over the coming months, since Watson’s restricted free agency is already shaping up to become a major domino of the offseason,” Fischer wrote. “Sources say teams that are projected to have cap space — notably such as the Lakers — are already preparing interest.”
He also mentioned the idea of Los Angeles moving Rui Hachimura, but with how well he’s played recently when Deandre Ayton’s been sitting, that might be a risky idea.
Lakers Predicted To Trade Dalton Knecht
As is the case in any trade, the Lakers would have to give up a somewhat valuable asset if they want to bring in any of those aforementioned players. While their previous trade assets included Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and their 2031 or 2032 first-round pick, Dalton Knecht can now be added to that group.
According to multiple sources, including Turner and Nguyen, Los Angeles is expected to move Knecht before the deadline in a deal that could also involve their 2032 second-rounder.
Per Anthony Irwin, the second-year guard asked to be traded after failing to get consistent minutes in this season’s rotation, and the team is likely willing to grant him that wish. He could be an interesting piece in a deal for Ellis or Hunter, but his value across the league remains to be seen.
As for a deal involving Antetokounmpo, if the Lakers aren’t willing to give up Reaves right now, they might have to wait for the summer until they have more assets to move. However, the Bucks are expected to have a line out the door of teams offering up packages for their superstar, so if Los Angeles is serious about going after him, they’ll have to make some concessions on their end.
Lakers New Top Trade Targets Emerge As Deadline Approaches