As usual, the Lakers have been linked to a number of players as the trade deadline nears, but one insider thinks LA might make a small move instead of a big splash.
The Lakers have been linked to players like Cam Johnson and big man Jonas Valančiūnas, but have already given up three second-round picks to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets.
So the Lakers may face some challenges in the trade market going forward, according to insider Jovan Buha.
“My thinking lately, which I’ve been hearing, has been that they’ve been more inclined to make a small move and maybe use second-round draft money and the problem is that their second-round money isn’t worth that much because their pick and the Clippers’ pick and both of those picks are expected to be between 45 and 52 depending on where those two teams finish in the standings so that those teams are not the top picks in the second round,” Buha said in the podcast his Buha’s Block. “Typically you’re looking for a first-round second-round type pick.”
Since they traded for center back Christian Wood, the Lakers could look to get a great pairing alongside Anthony Davis.
Valančiūnas is an option that likely won’t jeopardize the potential financial flexibility of the post-LeBron Lakers in 2026.
When Stein Line’s Jake Fischer wrote in mid-December that Robert Williams III was “on the Lakers’ bigs’ wish list.”
As for Johnson, he has 4 years, $94.5 million with the Nets, including $90 million guaranteed.
The Nets “would be loathe to move him for less than two first-round picks or so,” said Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
In order to comply with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Lakers, who now have $7.2 million over the initial tax cap, will have to trade a mid-sized contract.
With all of this red tape, it may be similar to recent seasons before, when the Lakers were one of the less interesting teams last season.
We will have to wait and see.
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