Category: Trade Rumors

Buha: Portland doesn’t want D’Angelo Russell in potential Jerami Grant trade

It won’t be easy for the Lakers to land forward Jerami Grant from the Trail Blazers.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t made any moves this summer other than to sign their two draft picks, there is still time for them to do something to upgrade their roster.

There do have a few rumored trade targets, including Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant. Grant averaged 21.0 points a game this past season and has become a very good 3-point shooter, not to mention a very capable defender.

Right now, the one big trade chip the Lakers have in the form of a player is starting point guard D’Angelo Russell. Russell recently opted into the final year of his contract, and the team reportedly has been looking to trade him.

But Jovan Buha of The Athletic said in a recent episode of “Buha’s Block” that the Blazers aren’t interested in taking back Russell in a potential trade that would send Grant to Los Angeles (h/t Lakers Daily).

“I’ve heard Portland doesn’t want D-Lo because they have a million guards anyway,” Buha said. “So, it just doesn’t really make sense for them.”

Acquiring Grant would likely be very expensive for L.A., especially in terms of the draft picks such a deal would require. But that is the state of the current NBA, where good players who have never been All-Stars, such as Mikal Bridges, have recently been traded for lots of draft capital.

Buha: The Blazers want two first-round draft picks for Jerami Grant

If the Lakers want to land Jerami Grant from the Trail Blazers, they may have to give up an arm and a leg.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant has been mentioned as a potential trade target of the Los Angeles Lakers for some time now. A 6-foot-7 forward, Grant is effective and versatile on the defensive end, and he has also become a legitimate scoring threat on the other end.

He averaged 21.0 points a game while hitting 40.2% of his 3-point attempts this past season. If he would accept a somewhat reduced role as a third or even a fourth option in Los Angeles, perhaps he could play a major factor in getting the team back to championship contention.

However, the price may not be right as far as the Lakers are concerned. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Portland wants two first-round draft picks for Grant.

The Lakers have a limited amount of draft capital available for use in a trade. When one considers they have other roster deficiencies besides a two-way wing, perhaps giving up two future first-rounders for Grant, a player who has never been named to the All-Star team, may not be the best idea.

Buha: Lakers are looking to trade D’Angelo Russell

The Lakers haven’t given up on pulling off a major trade this summer.

The free agent market in the NBA dried up many days ago, and therefore, if the Los Angeles Lakers are to significantly improve their roster, they will have to pull off at least one trade.

They do not have a lot of attractive trade assets. Per league rules, they’re allowed to trade up to two future first-round draft picks right now, and those picks could have some real value.

As far as players are concerned, the Lakers are actively shopping starting point guard D’Angelo Russell, according to The Athletic beat writer Jovan Buha. Russell opted into the final year of his contract earlier this summer, perhaps because the free agent market for him was very tepid.

Russell had an excellent regular season by averaging 18.0 points and 6.3 assists a game while shooting 41.5% from 3-point range. He played particularly well starting in mid-January, as he put up 20.8 points a contest while hitting 43% of his 3-point attempts in his final 41 regular season games.

But once again, he underperformed in the playoffs. In general, he’s seen as too slow for the modern game, as well as lackluster defensively.

If the Lakers somehow manage to upgrade from Russell by getting another ball-handling, facilitating guard in a potential trade, it could greatly raise their ceiling.

Report: Lakers are interested in trading for Cameron Johnson

Should the Lakers give up some of their limited trade capital for 3-and-D wing Cameron Johnson?

Over three weeks have passed since the official start of NBA free agency, and the Los Angeles Lakers still haven’t done anything — at all. Not only did rumored free agent targets such as Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan and Gary Trent Jr. reject the Lakers’ advances, but the team lost two key contributors — forward Taurean Prince and guard Spencer Dinwiddie.

The team’s roster now looks a little weaker than the one it won 47 games and lost in the first round of the playoffs with this past season.

A trade is the Lakers’ only option to get better and improve the supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. There are still some intriguing options available on the trade market, including the Brooklyn Nets’ Cameron Johnson.

A number of teams are rumored to be interested in trading for him, including the Purple and Gold.

Via New York Post:

“In what was viewed as a down year — slogging through adductor, ankle, calf, leg and shoulder injuries — Johnson still averaged 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 58 games,” wrote Brian Lewis.

“He shot 39.1 percent from deep, just off his 39.2 career mark.

“His size (6-foot-8), age (28) and shooting ability combine to make Johnson valuable. Only 10 NBA players 6-7 or taller averaged more than his 2.4 made 3-pointers last season.

“While the [Sacramento] Kings, [Orlando] Magic and Lakers are interested, one recent report claimed the [San Antonio] Spurs, [Toronto] Raptors or [Golden State] Warriors could be a ‘dark horse.'”

A 3-and-D wing is one of L.A.’s biggest needs, and Johnson seems to fit the bill. The team lacked defensive ball pressure and the ability to slow down star wings on that end of the floor, and he could greatly help in those areas.

Johnson is under contract for three more seasons at $23.6 million, $21.57 million and $23.6 million. It would be interesting to see how much capital Brooklyn demands in return, especially in terms of draft picks.

Windhorst: I wouldn’t rule out Jonas Valanciunas ending up with Lakers

After the Lakers missed out on center Jonas Valanciunas in free agency, could they still end up with him sometime in the coming months?

The Los Angeles Lakers have a few roster needs right now, and some feel their biggest need is another legitimate center outside of Anthony Davis. New head coach JJ Redick has admitted they would love to get a big, bruising center at some point.

To that end, one of their main free agent targets this summer was rumored to be Jonas Valanciunas, a lumbering 6-foot-11, 265-pound center. However, he chose to join the Washington Wizards, arguably the worst team in the NBA, on a three-year, $30 million contract.

It would seem like he is going to be in the nation’s capital for at least a little while. But NBA reporter Brian Windhorst said something intriguing about Valanciunas while on “The Hoop Collective” podcast.

“I wouldn’t rule out Jonas Valanciunas eventually ending up on the Lakers this year,” said Windhorst. “That’s all I’m going to say “

Valanciunas isn’t a big-time shot-blocker, but he has career averages of 13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. He also has a lifetime efficiency of 56.1% from the field, and he is a good free throw shooter who has improved his 3-point stroke over the last few years.

Lakers fans would likely be thrilled if he somehow finds his way onto the team’s roster in the coming months.

NBA insider names eight potential trade targets for the Lakers

Who could the Lakers go after in a trade either this summer or before this winter’s trade deadline?

At this point in the offseason, after the Los Angeles Lakers failed to sign any free agents, the only way they can upgrade their roster is through a trade. While they have a good roster that should make the playoffs if they stay relatively healthy, they don’t seem to be championship contenders by any stretch.

The Lakers’ needs are (in no particular order) an upgrade in terms of a ball-handling guard with better quickness and defense, a 3-and-D wing and a serviceable defensive center.

According to NBA insider Jake Weinbach, there are eight players to watch as far as possible trade targets for Los Angeles: Darius Garland, Bruce Brown, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Wendell Carter Jr.

Carter is someone who could solve the Lakers’ need for another legitimate center other than Anthony Davis. Although he has been injury-prone, he has shown the ability to rebound and occasionally hit 3-pointers.

Garland and Sexton would represent possible backcourt upgrades for the Lakers, while Brown, Johnson and Finney-Smith are intriguing 3-and-D wings.

Grant is someone the Lakers have been rumored to have serious interest in this summer. Having averaged 21.0 points a game this past summer, he could give them a legitimate third scoring option and another 3-point sniper, and he’s also a pretty good defender.

Markkanen would be the loftiest target on this list. He put up 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game over the last two seasons while making the All-Star team in the 2022-23 campaign, and a number of teams are thought to be after his services.

The Lakers have limited trade assets, but their upcoming first-round draft picks in 2029 and 2031 could be seen as valuable by some other team.

Lakers may make a trade closer to the start of the new season

Lakers fans disappointed and frustrated about the team’s lack of moves this summer will likely have to wait for something to happen.

More than two weeks have passed since the official start of NBA free agency, and the Los Angeles Lakers still haven’t made any moves — at all. While they have reportedly pursued a number of free agents, all of them have rejected the Lakers, making them look weak and possibly even incompetent when it comes to personnel moves.

On Tuesday, their latest free agent target spurned them when 3-and-D wing Gary Trent Jr. decided to join the Milwaukee Bucks on a one-year contract.

Perhaps one reason for this latest miss was the fact that they currently have a full roster of 15 players, and according to NBA rules, they cannot currently sign a free agent. They would have to trade away a couple of players on minimum contracts in order to be able to obtain a free agent, and doing so would be difficult, as Jovan Buha pointed out.

Via The Athletic:

“As things stand, the Lakers have a full roster of 15 players with guaranteed contracts. They’re also roughly $45,000 under the second apron of nearly $189 million. That combination means they can’t sign any players in free agency or add any additional players (or salary) in any trades. They have two first-round picks to trade (2029 and 2031), as well as multiple first-round swaps and second-round picks.

“The most straightforward way the Lakers can add talent is to make a consolidation trade. They can either send out more players than they receive in a deal or salary-dump [Cam] Reddish, [Christian] Wood and/or [Jaxson] Hayes, along with a second-round pick or two, onto a team with roster and financial flexibility. If the Lakers traded two minimum players (Wood, Hayes and Reddish would qualify), they’d have enough room under the second apron to sign a player to the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception. They could also add a player in a trade or sign player(s) to minimum contracts.”

At a minimum, disappointed and frustrated Lakers fans will have to wait for such a move.

“Regardless, the Lakers expect to make a consolidation trade at some point, though that could come closer to the start of the season, according to league sources.”

As it stands now, the Lakers look like a good and possibly a very good team. But at best, they’re pretenders, and they need some help in the form of two-way backcourt or wing players and another serviceable center in order to move up into the NBA’s elite pantheon.

Lakers are reportedly interested in Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr.

The Lakers aren’t necessarily giving up on pulling off a trade this summer.

Free agency across the NBA officially started nearly two weeks ago, and yet the Los Angeles Lakers have still done virtually nothing so far to improve their roster.

Their only moves so far as far as adding new players have been to sign draft picks Dalton Knecht and Bronny James. They haven’t signed any players away from other teams, nor have they pulled off a trade to bring in an outside player.

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying. They reportedly have interest in trading for Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen and Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (h/t Lakers Daily).

Via Heavy Sports:

“In the coming weeks, the league’s trade market is expected to heat up, and the hope in Lakerland is that once that happens, the team will be in position to make the kind of move that can push them back into contender-hood,” wrote Sean Deveney.

“But the pickings are going to be slim. The Lakers have interest in Lauri Markkanen of the Jazz, but likely won’t have enough capital on hand to get him to L.A. The list of other possible targets—from Zach LaVine and Jerami Grant to Walker Kessler and Malcolm Brogdon—likely won’t move the needle much for the Lakers.

“One guy of interest, though, who could help the Lakers check a few boxes remains a possible trade target: Magic center Wendell Carter Jr.”

Getting Markkanen, who made the All-Star team during the 2022-23 season and has averaged 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game the last two seasons, is probably unrealistic for L.A. He would probably cost multiple draft picks, and other teams would likely be able to put together a more attractive trade package than L.A. could.

But Carter could be gettable for the Purple and Gold.

The 6-foot-10, 270-pound big man has career averages of 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in 27.6 minutes a game. While he isn’t a big-time shot-blocker (he has averaged 0.8 blocks a contest for his career), he has gradually improved his 3-point shot. This past season, he made 37.4% of his 3-point attempts.

The concern with Carter is his health — he has appeared in at least 60 games just once in his career.

But perhaps he could make a nice big man duo with Anthony Davis while allowing the Lakers to employ the type of big lineups they had during their championship season in 2020.

Lakers haven’t shown much interest recently in Trae Young

The Lakers may not exactly be smitten with the idea of trading for three-time All-Star guard Trae Young.

Five full days have passed since NBA teams were allowed to officially start talking to free agents from other teams, and the Los Angeles Lakers have done nothing to add any outside free agents. So far, their only signings have been Max Christie, a guard who was already on their roster, and 2024 draft picks Bronny James and Dalton Knecht.

The Lakers have watched men such as Klay Thompson and Buddy Hield go off the free agency board, and now DeMar DeRozan, another free agent they have reportedly had interest in, could be headed to the Sacramento Kings.

The only option for L.A. could now be some sort of needle-moving trade. While he’s a polarizing option, Trae Young is a star some fans want the team to trade for.

But according to Zach Lowe, the Lakers haven’t shown much interest in the three-time All-Star guard.

Via ESPN:

“The Lakers, too, have shown little recent interest in Young, sources said,” wrote Lowe. “That could change if the price drops to L.A.’s liking. But the market for Young is as chilly as it has ever been.”

Young averaged 25.7 points and 10.8 assists a game this past season, but he shot just 43% from the field and turned the ball over 4.4 times a contest. In addition, he will make $43 million this coming season, which means his price tag would likely be extremely steep for Los Angeles.

Insider: Lakers are in trade talks for five players, including Kyle Kuzma

The Lakers reportedly haven’t given up on improving their roster this offseason.

Other than Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, the two players they drafted last week, the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster still looks similar to the one they had this past season.

Fans are already criticizing general manager Rob Pelinka and accusing him of allegedly being asleep on the job while some other teams across the NBA have improved via free agency and trades in recent days.

However, that doesn’t mean Pelinka hasn’t been trying to make something significant happen behind the scenes. Insider Anthony Irwin wrote that the Lakers are in trade talks with multiple teams about multiple players.

Via Lakers Daily:

“Sources say the Lakers have held trade talks with the Portland Trail Blazers about Jerami Grant, the Brooklyn Nets about Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Toronto Raptors about Bruce Brown and the Washington Wizards about Kyle Kuzma — as well as other teams and other trade targets. To this point, though, those are the names most closely linked to the Lakers, according to league and team sources.”

According to Irwin, Grant would cost two first-round draft picks, while Finney-Smith would require L.A. to give up one first-round pick.

Brown, who was a key factor in the Denver Nuggets winning the NBA championship a year ago, is a player the Lakers have had interest in previously. They wanted to sign him last summer, and they had some desire to trade for him a few months ago.

Kuzma is likely a player fans would welcome back in a heartbeat. While he’s a mediocre 3-point shooter and not an easy fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, he averaged 22.2 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 46.3% from the field this past season. All of those numbers were career highs for him.