Category: Trade Rumors

Are the Lakers considering trading LeBron James?

One Los Angeles-based reporter claims the Lakers are actively looking to trade LeBron James.

With about a week to go before the NBA’s trade deadline, many Los Angeles Lakers fans are hoping the team makes a deal that would improve its roster and give it a big shot in the arm.

Coming into Thursday’s contest against the Boston Celtics, it was 24-25 and coming off back-to-back blowout losses to the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks.

The player on their roster most likely to be traded is guard D’Angelo Russell, who recently had an extended hot streak.

However, according to Kevin Pingalore, a reporter for Los Angeles-based KTLA, the Lakers are looking to do the unthinkable: trade LeBron James (h/t Lakers Daily).

James is the type of player who would seemingly only be traded if he were to ask for a trade. For what it’s worth, Pingalore correctly tweeted about a couple of other major moves, including James coming to the Lakers in the first place, before they took place.

The 39-year-old has a player option for next season he could turn down and become a free agent this summer. If he has indeed already decided to leave the Lakers, he could do them a big favor by asking to be traded now so they could get something in return for him.

But the team merely trying to trade James ahead of next week’s deadline seems extremely unthinkable.

Stein: Lakers have dialed back their pursuit of Dejounte Murray

The Lakers may be thinking twice about trading D’Angelo Russell for the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray.

Los Angeles Lakers fans badly want their team to make a trade, and Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray is the man many of them seem to want. The team has had talks with Atlanta regarding him, but those talks have hit an impasse, reportedly because Atlanta doesn’t want D’Angelo Russell in return.

However, Russell has been on a heater since going back into L.A.’s starting lineup. In fact, his excellent play of late has reportedly made the team think twice about trading him.

In fact, NBA reporter Marc Stein wrote that Russell’s strong play has resulted in the Lakers dialing back their pursuit of Murray.

In his last eight games, Russell has put up 27.5 points and 6.4 assists a game while shooting 52.3% from the field and 54.2% from 3-point range. Not coincidentally, the Lakers have won five of their last seven contests.

Lakers may be reconsidering trading D’Angelo Russell

The Lakers may want to think twice about trading D’Angelo Russell given the heater he is currently on.

Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a great deal of talk about the Los Angeles Lakers being in pursuit of Atlanta Hawks star guard Dejounte Murray. At least on the surface, he seems a desirable target for them, given he’s a proven scorer who possesses speed, a reputation as an above-average defender and an improved 3-point shot.

Initially, the Hawks asked for Austin Reaves, but the Lakers seem very reluctant to include Reaves in any potential deal. The current framework for a possible Murray-to-L.A. deal reportedly involves D’Angelo Russell and filler.

Despite the trade talk, Russell has actually been playing some of his best ball ever lately. In his last seven games, he’s averaging 27.4 points and 6.6 assists a contest while shooting 53.8% overall and a Jacuzzi-like 53.1% from 3-point range. He hit eight treys in Thursday’s win against the Chicago Bulls.

In a recent Hoops Hype podcast, Lakers reporter Jovan Buha said the heater Russell is on has given the team something to think about as far as possibly trading him.

Via Hoops Hype:

“The level that D’Angelo Russell has played at has made them (Lakers) rethink things a little bit as far as the caliber of player they’d be willing to give him up for.”

While Russell has been playing very well lately, the fact he has a player option for next season may make him a little less valuable on the market. In fact, the Hawks reportedly don’t want him for Murray. Therefore, a third team would be needed to facilitate a trade that would bring Murray to the Purple and Gold.

Amick: Dejounte Murray to Lakers rumors have ‘very real legs’

Could it only be a matter of time before a trade sends Hawks guard Dejounte Murray to the Lakers?

The NBA trade deadline is slowly approaching, and Los Angeles Lakers fans are hoping their team will make a big splash to resurrect its championship hopes.

The Lakers are 22-23 and in ninth place in the Western Conference. It’s not exactly what they envisioned last summer when many expected them to be contenders. That has left them aggressively canvassing the trade market for an upgrade or two.

The player they have been linked to the most is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. Reportedly, a search for a third team to take on D’Angelo Russell in a possible deal is underway.

According to NBA insider Sam Amick, people around the league believe there is a very real chance Murray will end up with the Purple and Gold (h/t Lakers Daily).

“It feels like that has got very real legs to it,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick said regarding rumors linking Murray to the Lakers. “… It’s a question of how long does (Hawks general manager) Landry Fields hold out? But it feels like the Lakers have separated themselves from the Dejounte pack, and it feels like — to some degree — they’ve locked in on him as a guy they think can help them.”

Murray, a 6-foot-5 combo guard, is averaging a career-high 21.4 points a game this season. He has dramatically improved his 3-point shooting and is known as a strong defender and a speedy player in the open court, which are all qualities L.A. badly needs.

Which two players do the Lakers most want to trade for?

Many know the Lakers are trying to acquire Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, but who is the other player at the top of their wish list?

This season’s NBA trade deadline will be Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. Eastern, which means time is slowly starting to run out for teams to secure some type of upgrade for their rosters.

The Los Angeles Lakers have apparently been aggressive in scouring the market for at least one player who can help them improve their dismal 22-23 record and resurrect their championship aspirations.

Their top target is clearly Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, who can not only score and facilitate but also be a speed demon in the open court and play effective defense. It appears the Lakers and Hawks have made some progress on a potential deal, although nothing is imminent.

At the same time, according to Shams Charania, their other main target is Bruce Brown Jr., who recently was traded to the Toronto Raptors (h/t Lakers Daily).

Brown can play both the 2 and 3 and is known as a strong defender and the type of multifaceted role player whose impact can go beyond his numbers. He won an NBA championship last season with the Denver Nuggets and is averaging 11.9 points a game this season, although he has been struggling with his 3-point shooting.

Los Angeles reportedly wanted to sign him last summer with its mid-level exception, only to lose out to the Indiana Pacers.

Lakers have interest in trading for two of their former players

The Lakers may want to bring back two familiar men in order to bolster their depth.

After 45 games and just 22 wins this season, the Los Angeles Lakers are aggressively scouring the trade market to secure at least one upgrade. Their biggest trade target, according to reports, is Atlanta Hawks star guard Dejounte Murray, but there are a number of other players they’re also interested in.

While they would love to upgrade from D’Angelo Russell, who has been on a tear lately after slumping for most of December, they have a couple of other needs. They would like another legitimate facilitating guard, ideally one with foot speed, which has resulted in some interest in Collin Sexton of the Utah Jazz and Tyus Jones of the Washington Wizards.

According to ESPN, L.A. is also interested in Dennis Schroder, who played for it last season, as well as during the 2020-21 campaign.

Via ESPN:

“The Toronto Raptors have two players on their roster the Lakers have interest in as well, sources said: Dennis Schroder and Bruce Brown,” wrote Dave McMenamin. “Schroder was L.A.’s backup point guard last season before signing with Toronto for the full midlevel exception in the summer.”

Schroder gave the team some very valuable minutes last season, especially when Russell missed games late in the schedule with an ankle injury. He started 50 of 66 games for the Lakers last year during the regular season, and so far this season, he’s averaging 13.9 points and 6.3 assists a game.

Lakers have talked internally about going after Donovan Mitchell or Trae Young

The Lakers have reportedly considered waiting until this summer to make a trade and go after a big-name player.

The Los Angeles Lakers may have won three of their last four games, but they still hold a dismal 22-22 record and sit in ninth place in the Western Conference. With each inexcusable loss, such as their 130-112 defeat against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, the pressure only grows for them to do something about their situation.

They’re rumored to be attempting to land Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks, and, reportedly, they’re looking for a third team to find a taker for D’Angelo Russell. But L.A. has numerous other trade targets as well.

Many may argue none of its rumored trade targets would move the needle much. But the team has also reportedly talked internally about making a much bigger move once this season concludes (h/t Lakers Daily).

Via ESPN:

“The Lakers currently have only one future first-round pick available to trade, but starting on the day of the NBA draft, they’ll have three: 2031, 2029 and either 2024 or 2025, depending on whether New Orleans chooses to use the 2024 pick it previously received from L.A. or defers it to the next draft,” Dave McMenamin wrote.

“The Lakers have discussed internally the possibility of packaging three picks, along with players they already have on their books, to pursue a bona fide star, such as Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers or Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, team sources told ESPN.”

Fans will likely be disappointed if the Lakers don’t make any moves before the Feb. 8 trade deadline and instead wait until this summer to improve their roster. LeBron James has a player option for next season, and he could always decide to opt out of his contract and leave the Lakers this summer if he is unhappy about their direction.

Mitchell has been rumored to want out of Cleveland. He can opt out in the summer of 2025 and become a free agent, and if Cleveland wants to trade him beforehand and get some value for him, he could be the type of big fish the Lakers could badly want.

However, most feel Mitchell, who is originally from the tri-state (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) area, wants to go to the New York Knicks.

Lakers are looking for third team in potential Dejounte Murray trade

The Lakers are still working to attempt to pull off a trade for Hawks star guard Dejounte Murray.

The NBA trade deadline is about two and a half weeks away. There have been many trade rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers, and they reportedly have an ample number of trade targets they’re interested in.

But at this point, they clearly have one top trade target: Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. The Lakers and Hawks have reportedly talked about a possible trade and even discussed a possible framework that includes starting guard D’Angelo Russell.

However, the Hawks don’t seem to be very interested in taking back Russell; in fact, they initially asked for Austin Reaves, whom L.A. is reluctant to give up.

According to Shams Charania, L.A. and Atlanta are looking for a third team to be involved in a possible deal in order to re-route Russell (h/t Lakers Nation).

“The Lakers and Hawks did have some pretty extensive conversations about a Dejounte Murray trade a couple weeks ago. They were centered around D’Angelo Russell, a 2029 first-round draft pick and a pick swap, I’m told. The holdup was that Atlanta wanted to find a third team for D’Angelo Russell. He’s got a player option for next season, they want to find a spot where they might be able to get an expiring contract back.

“I would expect the sides to circle back as we get closer to the February trade deadline. But listen, D’Angelo Russell, the last five games, I think we need to give him credit for the way he’s playing, 27 points a night, six assists per game, about five 3s per game as well. His splits are unbelievable, 56% from the field over the last five games. He’s gotten a lot of flack over the last month or so, he’s been in and out of the starting lineup. He’s back in the starting lineup now and has played at a really high level for the Lakers over the last five games.”

While Russell has been playing very well lately, an argument could still be made that Murray would be an upgrade. Murray is averaging 21.1 points and 5 assists a game while shooting 47.1% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range so far this season, and he has a reputation as a fine defender and a speed demon.

How interested are the Lakers in trading for Zach LaVine?

The Lakers have reportedly had serious interest in trading for Bulls star Zach LaVine, but is that still true?

With just over two weeks to go before the NBA trade deadline, it has become clear the Los Angeles Lakers are intent on making a move in order to improve their roster. However, if the recent past has been any indication, they will likely refrain from paying a heavy price to do so or acquiring a player who wouldn’t fit in or move the needle much.

One player they have been rumored to be targeting is Chicago Bulls wing Zach LaVine. A two-time All-Star, he would seem to be a prudent target on the surface because of his career average of 20.5 points a game and ability to deliver highlight dunks.

But according to the Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike, that interest has all but fizzled out. Woike mentioned that LaVine’s contract and injury concerns are deal breakers.

On the other hand, Woike also said that if LaVine were part of a package deal that included guard Alex Caruso, perhaps the Lakers would revisit going after LaVine.

Caruso, a former Laker and cult hero among the team’s fans, is shooting 49.4% from the field and 41.7% from 3-point range, both of which are career highs, this season. Last season, he was named to the All-Defensive first team.

Lakers are reportedly interested in Spencer Dinwiddie and Malcolm Brogdon

The Lakers appear to be casting a wide net when it comes to looking for guard help on the trade market.

With the NBA trade deadline creeping closer, it has become clear the Los Angeles Lakers will be aggressive in looking to improve their roster.

They have a number of rumored trade targets, including Dejounte Murray, Collin Sexton and Bruce Brown. It has become clear their top priority is a ball-handling guard with speed in the open court and another priority is a 3-and-D wing.

On Friday, L.A. suffered a crushing 130-112 defeat at the hands of the Brooklyn Nets. Cam Thomas burned it with 33 points in 32 minutes off the bench, while Spencer Dinwiddie was third in scoring on the Nets with 19 points and added four assists.

The Lakers are reportedly looking at Dinwiddie as a trade target. In addition, they’re interested in Portland Trail Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon.

Via Action Network:

“The Lakers want guards, but they need to at least be passable on defense, which is why there’s zero expectation at this point for them to add Zach LaVine,” wrote Matt Moore. “Dejounte Murray is most likely their top target, but Malcolm Brogdon, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Tyus Jones (who is looking for a starting spot and the money that comes with it) are other names to keep an eye on.”

Dinwiddie has been a capable playmaker for a number of years, and at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, he has good size. However, he has historically been an inefficient player. He has a career mark of 33.2% shooting from 3-point range.

Brogdon is another big guard who can both facilitate and score. But unlike Dinwiddie, he has always shot a robust percentage. This year, he’s at 41.2% from beyond the arc while averaging 15.3 points and 5.2 assists in 27.2 minutes per game.