The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be one of the more active teams in the NBA at the trade deadline in February. Los Angeles entered this season with essentially the same roster that they had last year despite being bounced out in the first round of the postseason.
The Lakers have a few pieces on their roster that could intrigue opposing teams, including two first-round draft picks in 2029 and 2031. But they also have some expiring contracts that could entice a team to make a deal.
None are more valuable than that of guard D’Angelo Russell. He is making $18.6 million this season, a number that could have teams interested in getting that off their books next summer.
Los Angeles has already started to gauge the trade market, specifically at the center position. They are fairly thin in the frontcourt so the front office is looking at all options.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Lakers have two centers on their “internal board” as we get closer to the trade deadline. That would be Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks and Jonas Valančiūnas of the Washington Wizards.
‘D’Angelo Russell is going to be on the block and is going to be available as outgoing salary, roughly $20 million to play with there. And the center spot is a spot that we know Los Angeles has been looking to upgrade and will be looking to upgrade. I mentioned Brook Lopez…he is someone that I was told is on the Lakers’ list of potential center targets and acquisitions this past summer. Like we said before, Jonas Valančiūnas is another name I would keep an eye on for the future there.”
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The Lakers landing either of these two centers would vastly improve their chances to compete this year. While Lopez is older, he could be enticing due to his $23 million expiring contract.
The former All-Star has struggled a little to start the year but the Bucks as a whole haven’t put it together. Lopez has averaged 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game.
As for Valančiūnas, he is on a team-friendly deal that he signed with Washington this past summer. He is making $9.9 million this year, $10.3 million next year, and $10 million in his final contract season.
Valančiūnas has averaged 13.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He wouldn’t provide the Lakers as much defense as Lopez would but his offensive game is better at this point in his career.
Los Angeles probably couldn’t go wrong getting either of these two as they need help in the frontcourt. It will be up to general manager Rob Pelinka to make a good deal as the Lakers try to win another title this season.
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