There are just hours to go before the NBA trade deadline, and therefore the clock is ticking for the Los Angeles Lakers to make a move.
They have been linked to a number of players, and while their current roster seems to have lots of potential, they still have at least one roster deficiency.
This year’s trade landscape doesn’t exactly look impressive, and there doesn’t seem to be any true difference-makers who will get moved by 3 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday. As a result, some have speculated that the Lakers would be better off waiting until this summer to make a significant trade that would move the needle.
Reportedly, they may do just that, partly because they feel they could land star guard Donovan Mitchell (h/t Lakers Daily).
Sources tell @CBSsports that a complicating factor on whether or not the Lakers acquire an impact player in the next 24 hours is the belief within the organization they could have a chance to acquire Donovan Mitchell this summer. Knicks also could be in play.
— Bill Reiter (@sportsreiter) February 7, 2024
If L.A. is still stubborn about going with a three-star setup (and if LeBron James remains with the organization past this season), Mitchell would seem to be an attractive target, at least on the surface. He’s averaging 28.2 points and a career-high 6.4 assists a game this season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he has a history of turning things up in big games.
Many feel he will leave Cleveland one way or another soon, and he could opt out of his contract and become a free agent in the summer of 2025. That may entice Cleveland to trade him beforehand in order to get some value back for him.
However, the thinking is that Mitchell wants to become a member of the New York Knicks. He is originally from Westchester County, which is in suburban New York City, and if he is focused on going to the Knicks, perhaps the Lakers shouldn’t waste their time giving up assets for him.