NBA trade deadline: What moves might Lakers or Clippers make?
BT: In speaking with NBA executives and scouts who were not authorized to speak publicly on the subject, the most likely scenario for the Lakers is to take action on the sidelines. People around the NBA say the Lakers are looking for big wing players, but so is most of the league.
Names that have been given to the Lakers as potential trade targets, according to some of those NBA officials, are Dallas’ Naji Marshall, a former teammate of Doncic’s, Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter, Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo and Sacramento’s Keon Ellis. New Orleans’ Troy Murphy III and Herbert Jones are two players the Lakers have shown some interest in – as have many other teams – but people around the NBA say the asking price is so high that teams are waiting to see if it happens before the deadline next week.
Mavericks forward Naji Marshall stops for a jump shot against Lakers forward Jake LaRavia on Saturday.
(Julio Cortez/Associated Press)
To make one of those deals, NBA executives and scouts said, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and his expiring $18 million contract is a name that comes up often as a tradeable player. Hachimura’s recent outstanding play has increased his trade value around the league, but it has also made the forward a very valuable player for the Lakers.
Rarely used Lakers guard Dalton Knecht is a player that NBA people say Los Angeles is willing to make a trade for, with a second-round pick attached to him to make it work.
NT: Knecht played with a lot of confidence for a brief period this season, as evidenced by him taking the lead in back-to-back games against the Pelicans and Spurs. But the Lakers have already shown they’re comfortable parting ways with the former 17th overall pick. He was sent to Charlotte last year before the Mark Williams trade fell through.
