Tag: Los Angeles Lakers

J.R. Smith, Darren Collison both potential targets for Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers will have to look to the buyout market to improve their team after standing pat at the trade deadline.

The Los Angeles Lakers stood pat at the NBA trade deadline despite reportedly being involved in multiple deals across the league. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers cashed in their chips for New York’s Marcus Morris on deadline day and opened up some roster spots to potentially add players from the buyout market.

As it stands, the Lakers do not have any open roster spots but there are names to watch out for with regards to the buyout market that could force them to waive someone on their roster. According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer and Marc Stein of the New York Times, retired guard Darren Collison could be a potential Lakers target.

In addition to Collison, J.R. Smith is expected to get a workout with the Lakers, as reported a few weeks ago by Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, and corroborated by Stein earlier today.

Collison could potentially fill the back-up point guard role that has gone back and forth between a collection of guards on the Lakers all season long. Meanwhile, Smith would give the Lakers added 3-point shooting and more depth on the wing to supplement Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso.

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Clippers land Marcus Morris and Isaiah Thomas in three-team deal

The Los Angeles Clippers have geared up to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in a run at the 2020 NBA Championship.

The Los Angeles Clippers are tooling up for a run to the 2020 NBA Finals and enlisted some veteran help in the closing minutes before the NBA trade deadline as they hope to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers later this year.

The Clippers landed Marcus Morris from the New York Knicks, as well as Isaiah Thomas from the Washington Wizards, in a three-team deal, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Clippers sent native New Yorker Moe Harkless and their 2020 1st round pick to the Knicks while the Wizards got shooting guard Jerome Robinson from the Clippers. Altogether, it cost quite a bit but the Clippers added to their team for a potential showdown with the Lakers.

Morris adds another body and six fouls to throw at LeBron James while Thomas gives them an emergency point guard who can provide scoring and ballhandling in a pinch. If Lou Williams turns an ankle or gets in foul trouble, Thomas is the perfect fit to fill in. Also considering the Lakers weakness in the backcourt, Thomas could do well in a Lakers matchup.

Thomas has had a bounceback season after a hip injury derailed his past few years, averaging 12 points and four assists per game while shooting 41.3% from the 3-point line. Morris averaged a career-high 19.6 points and shot nearly 44% from the 3-point line in 43 games this season with the Knicks.

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Lakers at home again to face off-against new-look Houston Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers will get the first look at a brand-new Houston Rockets team that is going all-in on small ball.

With only minutes to go before the expiration of the NBA trade deadline, the focus will soon shift back to the NBA schedule and tonight’s games. The Los Angeles Lakers, who could still make a move between now and the deadline, will welcome one of the teams that made a major change before the deadline in the Houston Rockets.

Earlier this week, the Houston Rockets traded long-time center Clint Capela in a four-team deal that landed Minnesota’s Robert Covington with the Rockets. According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Covington is expected to be uniform tonight for the Rockets.  The other player they acquired in the trade, Jordan Bell, has been traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

By getting rid of Capela and Bell, the Rockets identity is as clear as can be. They will lean further into the concept of small ball, relying heavily on PJ Tucker at center, due to Russell Westbrook’s inability to shoot well from the outside. This also puts more of an onus on Westbrook, Harden, Tucker, and everyone to be a cohesive rebounding unit.

That thin and small frontcourt will be put to the test tonight by the most bruising team in the league in Los Angeles. They’re physical, bigger and more skilled than every frontcourt. It will be interesting to see if Daryl Morey’s gamble on 3-point shooting outweighing the importance of rebounding works out for Houston tonight.

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Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Rockets at Lakers sports betting odds, with NBA matchup analysis and picks.

Two of the top teams in the West will square off on Thursday night with the Houston Rockets (32-18) visiting the Los Angeles Lakers (38-11). The game will start at 10:30 p.m. ET from the Staples Center.

We analyze Rockets-Lakers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Rockets at Lakers: Key injuries

Rockets

  • PG Russell Westbrook (thumb): Questionable
  • SF Robert Covington (acquired via trade): Available
  • PF Jordan Bell (acquired via trade): Available

Lakers

  • None

Rockets at Lakers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Thursday at 12:00 P.m. ET.

Prediction

Lakers 124, Rockets 114

Moneyline (ML)

The Lakers have been sputtering a bit as of late, going 5-4 in their last nine games without more than two wins in a row since January 10-13. The Rockets have won three straight and are 6-2 in their last eight.

While Los Angeles may not be playing that well, the Lakers will most likely get it done on Thursday night at home, where they’re 17-6 this season. That doesn’t mean you should bet on them, though. The moneyline of -334 isn’t worth the risk against a good Rockets team, so I’d PASS.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Lakers returns a profit of $2.99.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Lakers are 7.5-point favorites over the Rockets, the eighth straight time they’ve been favored. The last time they were underdogs was against the Rockets last month, a game they won 124-115. In their last 10 games, both teams are only 5-5 ATS, but the Lakers have been better in that department this season (26-22-1).

The spread offers much better upside than the moneyline, which is why I’d take the LAKERS (-110) to cover the 7.5-point margin. If the Rockets rule out Westbrook, that line could grow, too.

Over/Under (O/U)

The over/under is 236.5 points, the highest of any game tonight. Both teams have been hitting the over lately, though, with the total going over in five of the Rockets’ last seven and 10 of the Lakers’ last 12.

In the Lakers’ last four home games, the total has gone over four times, and it’s gone over in three of the Rockets’ last four road games. Bet the OVER 236.5 (-110).

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @camdasilva and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Report: Knicks plan to hire former LeBron associates, Rose and Wesley

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has strong connections to the new Knicks regime, including a name you haven’t heard in a while.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. And in the case of the New York Knicks, who are once again undergoing a regime change under owner James Dolan, they are handing their franchise over to trusted hands who know plenty about running the show in New York. But this time, rather than influencing in the shadows, they will be front and center.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the New York Knicks are closing in on a deal to bring in CAA super agent Leon Rose into the team to be their new President. But there’s another interesting wrinkle, as Shams Charania of The Athletic reports, that Rose will bring along his confidant, William Wesley, otherwise known as “World Wide Wes.”

It wasn’t that long ago that “CAA running the Knicks” was a running bit around the league. However, the Knicks were at least good when CAA stacked their team with clients in the earlier part of the decade, like the 2012-13 season in which they won over 50 games and made it to the second round of the playoffs. The Knicks are also clearly trying to follow the blueprint for success that has been followed by the Golden State Warriors (Bob Myers) and Los Angeles Lakers (Rob Pelinka), as two squads that have thrived with former player agents in the front office.

Wesley, while not technically an agent, has worked for CAA for decades now and developed a very strong relationship with NBA players all over the league, including LeBron James. He’s even been name-checked in songs by Drake and Jay-Z. Wesley and Rose were both strong parts of LeBron’s camp during “The Decision” back in 2010. A few years later, James eventually left to join Klutch Sports after Rich Paul left CAA to start his own agency.

Now that LeBron is in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future, there’s no way the Knicks are going to be able to turn back the clock to 2010 and bring him to New York again. However, it will be interesting to see what his former colleagues do now that they have the chance to bring the Knicks back to relevance.

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Podcast: Discussing the top rumors ahead of 2020 NBA trade deadline

Alex Kennedy and Frank Urbina preview the 2020 NBA trade deadline, discussing the various teams and players to keep an eye on.

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On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy and Frank Urbina preview the 2020 NBA trade deadline. They discuss the teams and players to keep an eye on over the next 24 hours. Time-stamps are below!

1:15: The New York Knicks are reportedly open for business since firing Steve Mills. Now, they’re apparently open to trading Marcus Morris. They’re also one of the teams in the mix for D’Angelo Russell.

4:45: Discussing what the Los Angeles Lakers may do ahead of the deadline. They’ve shown interest in Morris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dennis Schroeder and Darren Collison among others, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Also, will Kyle Kuzma be traded?

8:15: The Los Angeles Clippers are keeping tabs on what the Lakers are doing and they’re competing for many of the same players. Alex and Frank discuss the Clippers’ options. If they land Morris, how much better would they be?

12:15: The Phoenix Suns are reportedly listening to offers for Kelly Oubre all of a sudden, which is somewhat surprising. Are the Suns sellers?

13:40: Discussing the Golden State Warriors’ trade talks, including their options with D’Angelo Russell, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III.

21:20: The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers reportedly want to add a shooter, but Milwaukee doesn’t want to disrupt their chemistry and Philadelphia doesn’t have many trade chips.

26:55: Prior to the Warriors-Nets game in Brooklyn, Alec Burks was on the phone for a while and then was consoled by Warriors staffers, according to HoopsHype’s Bryan Kalbrosky. Alex and Frank react to this as well as the fact that Burks and Robinson III were held out of tonight’s game.

28:35: Breaking down the Oklahoma City Thunder’s options leading up to the deadline. They’re open to selling Schroeder, Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams, but they have reportedly fielded some calls as a buyer too.

31:30: The Miami Heat have expressed in Gallinari and Iguodala (who they traded for shortly after this was recorded). Alex and Frank discuss Miami’s options, Iguodala’s fit with the Heat and more.

34:50: What will the San Antonio Spurs do ahead of the deadline? They’ve reportedly had conversations about DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay, but they’re asking for a lot. They’ve also made calls that indicate they could be a buyer.

37:15: Discussing the Detroit Pistons’ options in regards to Andre Drummond, Markieff Morris and Derrick Rose.

40:55: Breaking down the Toronto Raptors’ approach to the deadline. They are reportedly a buyer. Will Masai Ujiri make a move? And how tough is it for Masai to make a trade these days after fleecing so many rival executives?

43:40: Alex and Frank each share a trade that they’d love to see happen prior to the deadline.

Report: Grizzlies Andre Iguodala traded to Miami, agrees to extension

The desired target of the Los Angeles Lakers has landed with the Lakers legend Pat Riley and the Miami Heat, according to reports.

The Los Angeles Lakers pursuit of Andre Iguodala, as well as the pursuit of several other teams, has ended. Rather than going back to Los Angeles, Iguodala will be spending the twilight of his amazing NBA career on the shores of Miami Beach.

Andre Iguodala has not only been traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Miami Heat, but the 16-year NBA veteran has agreed to a contract extension to stay in Miami, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Shams Charania of The Athletic followed up by reporting the Heat maintained their flexibility to pursue free agents in 2021 by making the second year a team option.

In exchange for Iguodala, the crown jewel for the Grizzlies was Miami wing Justise Winslow.

Given that Winslow is cost-controlled for the next couple of seasons and also adds some extra creative ability to the Grizzlies, it’s not hard to see why the Lakers never had a chance in a potential bidding war for the services of Iguodala.

Even if they had given up Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso, they clearly didn’t have the available talent to exchange that the Grizzlies thought was worth Iguodala’s market price.

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Russell Westbrook could return from thumb sprain vs. Lakers

After missing Tuesday’s game with a thumb sprain, All-Star guard Russell Westbrook could return to the Rockets’ lineup versus the Lakers.

After missing Tuesday’s victory over Charlotte due to a sprained left thumb, All-Star guard Russell Westbrook could return to the Houston Rockets’ lineup in time for Thursday night’s showdown at Los Angeles.

In the team’s official injury report issued late Wednesday, Westbrook was listed as questionable due to the thumb injury. That’s an upgrade from his “doubtful” status prior to Tuesday, and since there’s no mention of rest, it does not appear that Thursday is one of his scheduled rest games.

In 35.9 minutes per game this season, Westbrook is averaging 26.4 points (45.4% shooting), 8.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists with the Rockets.

Westbrook sprained the thumb on his non-dominant hand during Sunday’s game against New Orleans. Speaking postgame, he said a Pelicans player accidentally swiped at it while going for the basketball.

Westbrook had the thumb heavily bandaged immediately after Sunday’s game. But at Monday’s practice and during Tuesday’s game, which the former MVP watched from the bench, there was no sign of a wrap or brace — which would seem to indicate that the issue is minor.

Head coach Mike D’Antoni indicated Tuesday that Westbrook would sit out one game of the upcoming back-to-back in Los Angeles and Phoenix on Thursday and Friday, but for reasons unrelated to his left thumb. That’s part of the 31-year-old’s season-long maintenance plan after undergoing offseason knee surgery.

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When asked which game Westbrook would play in, D’Antoni told reporters with a sarcastic tone:

You could probably take a wild guess.

That would certainly appear to be a clue that the team’s plan, at least as of Tuesday, was for Westbrook to play.

Westbrook is a Los Angeles native, and Thursday’s game against the Lakers (38-11) offers an opportunity for the Rockets (32-18) to measure themselves on national television against the Western Conference’s premiere team to this point in the 2019-20 season.

Houston enters Thursday having won six of its last eight games. Tip-off from Staples Center is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Central time, with the game broadcast as a national exclusive on TNT.

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Report: Lakers tried ‘all avenues’ for Iguodala but Heat frontrunner to land him

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly tried to acquire Iguodala but are unlikely to do so, according to Yahoo’s Chris Haynes.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been trying to improve their team through various avenues over the past few weeks and the same goes for their cross hallway rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. But one of the crown jewels of this year’s trade deadline looks like he will be in a different, luxurious locale.

According to multiple reports, the Miami Heat are in serious talks with the Memphis Grizzlies to acquire Andre Iguodala as they attempt to make a run to the NBA Finals. The Lakers, according to Yahoo’s Chris Haynes, explored all avenues to acquire Iguodala but it looks as though they are focused on a deal with the Heat.

Iguodala would have helped fill a need as a secondary ball-handler for the Lakers without having to give up any size. But a player with his championship pedigree was always going to generate some kind of bidding war, which the Grizzlies were banking on. While the return is unclear, it looks like Memphis’ gamble paid off for the package they wanted.

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Report: Several teams calling Lakers about Alex Caruso

Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reports that the Los Angeles Lakers guard is drawing a lot of interest from other teams.

For the past few months, we’ve heard a lot about the Los Angeles Lakers potentially moving their young forward Kyle Kuzma in hopes of improving their roster ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, which is now less than 24 hours away. But there’s another young player that is garnering a lot of interest from opposing teams: fan-favorite guard Alex Caruso.

Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reported on Wednesday afternoon that several teams are calling to see about Caruso’s availability. Caruso has been a key part of the Lakers success all season, helping them greatly on the defensive end. Although Caruso’s stats of 5.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game aren’t that impressive, he’s played in 46 of 49 games and is currently ranked No. 6 in the NBA in ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus.

Teaming with Dwight Howard, those two have provided an incredible energy boost for the Lakers all season on the defensive end to support the tone set all season by LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Another thing that makes Caruso attractive to other teams is the team-friendly contract he has that is set to pay him $2.75 million next season. With the Lakers lacking greatly in draft capital, a move of Caruso, for something like a second-round pick, could help them add assets for a bigger trade down the line.

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