The Lakers and Mavericks both currently sit comfortably in the lottery, with little chance of making a run at a playoff spot this season. Still, there’s a sense in NBA circles that the two teams could be logical trade partners, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
Kyler cautions that there have been zero talks between the Lakers and Mavericks about a potential Luol Deng trade, but he suggests that if any team is willing to roll the dice on Deng and his exorbitant contract, Dallas might be that team. The Mavericks have some expiring contracts that would appeal to L.A., and if the Lakers attached Julius Randle and a future draft pick to Deng, that could pique the Mavs’ interest, Kyler writes.
Of course, within the last month, we’ve heard that the Lakers aren’t interested in parting with future first-round picks in order to move Deng, and a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski suggested that the club had essentially given up hope of another team taking on the veteran forward’s unwieldy contract. So even if the Mavericks represent the best potential fit, the odds of a deal remain slim.
Kyler’s latest piece for Basketball Insiders includes several other items of interest on a handful of lottery teams, so let’s round up a few highlights…
- The Grizzlies are unlikely to make any franchise-altering moves before next month’s trade deadline, which means Marc Gasol probably isn’t going anywhere. Still, they’re a team worth watching, according to Kyler, who points to Tyreke Evans as a potential Memphis trade candidate.
- The “dream scenario” for the Magic would be to move Bismack Biyombo before the deadline, but they’re highly unlikely to find a taker for that contract. Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier may also emerge as trade chips, but Aaron Gordon almost certainly isn’t going anywhere — the “prevailing thought” is that he’ll be retained by Orlando as a restricted free agent this summer, says Kyler.
- The Hawks appear open to listening to inquiries on Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore, but their current asking prices are probably too high to work anything out, reports Kyler.
The Lakers should just give up a first rounder… if they’re so hell-bent on having cap space then they need to do it. It’s not like they’re gonna be giving up 3 first rounders to get rid of Deng. If all it takes is Deng, Randle, and a future first rounder to entice the Mavs, the Lakers should not hesitate to pull the trigger.
This league is embarassing, why would Atlanta shoo Dennis? They should be building around Dennis,Prince, and Collins and looking to get Doncic in the draft.
1rst let me say I’m a huge Hawks fan, DS is my favorite current Hawk, and I love what I have seen if Donic via YouTube. Now that I’ve said that, the Hawks should look to trade anyone they can for unprotected picks, including my favorite DS! And despit Donic likely being the front runner for ROY, he dose not have the upside of Marvin Bagley III. If we get the #1 pick, it needs to be Bagley. You don’t pass on the guy with Derrick Colemannlike skill, mixed KG like athleticism and intensity, for the guy who could be a better passing version of Drazen Petrovic!
How are the Lakers sitting comfortably in the lottery when they don’t have a 2018
1st round pick!
They weren’t referring to draft picks. Just basically saying they both suck rite now.
Chun I believe it would be the 2020 first round pick. In 2018 the lakers pick is in the 2nd round.
Laker fan for life
Go Lakers!!
As far as the Hawks, this is an example of something they can do to get another lotto pick. According to rumor, the Cavs are interested in Cousins, however AD would not be happy with dealing him for BK’s pick. Enter the Hawks in a 3 team trade, according to ESPN trade Macine it works money wise and gives the Hawks -12 wins, NO +1 win, and Cle +8 wins.
Hawks get: BK pick and the bad contracts of Asik & Hill
Cavs get: Cousins
N.O. Gets: DS, Thompson, and Dedmon.
For the Hawks… They get another Loto pick and would hope Asik and Hill excepts buyouts.
For N.O. …….. They get one of the best young pg’s In the game for Cousins, who likely leaves if they don’t make the play offs.
For Cle…… Well they make it hard for GS to go small and possibly beat them in the finals!
I root for no player to get HURT! But Harden going down improves the Hawks puck from them.
Bazemore($16mil) for the Brk pick, JRSmith, & Zizic or Osman. Cedi Osman hustles & handles for 6-7 but commits turnovers… he needs enough PT to work out the kinks and basically, get tired and calm down. He could be something, wearing down almost anyone in time. But he’s not good for spot duty on a contender yet– his first few minutes can be rough. 38% for 3s. Zizic, well, is tall. He needs to move his feet more on D and less when he has the ball.
Bazemore has arms long enough– 6-11– to put on Durant; stats rising; 3 more years.
If the Cavs had moved fast enough, they maybe could have landed Dedmon too somehow… but the lottery luster is off the Brk pick.
If PG or Cousins is available for that pick, I think that’s the move, if not Bazemore is probably the best 3 and D player on the block, so he would be a worthy addition to the Cavs. He also spent some time with GS, so he should know some of the player tendencies. If BK is able to continue to hang around the 8-11 range in the east and N.O. Along with OKC stay in the playoff picture, this maybe the best the Cavs can do. Is it an over the top move in beating GS? NO! Dose it get them closer and along with a healthy IT a real chance? Yes
I don’t think the Cavs can outbid other teams who may want Cousins, while OKC is gaining both wins and the status of the other team besides LA for George to consider. And the longer the Cavs wait to deal the Brk-pick, the more other teams doubt how much the it is worth… maybe they do anyway, and it is too late to deal it effectively. But it’s acquisition, now, could impress a team’s fanbase. It’s almost as famous as a player by now!
A better offer than Smith would be Shumpert and expiring Frye (plus Osman and the pick)… but Shump is out right now, and been affected all year. Realistically Atlanta will want more, the article indicates.
This move would make CC look good vs GSW, providing Love holds up; I’m pretty confident about IT, who plays Curry well. But the EC playoffs will be tougher than expected– Irving has 3 straight runs also.
While I agree that the longer they hold the BK, the more it diminishes it’s possible return ( with the way BK is playing), I disagree that teams will out bid the Cavs if Coudins is who they want! Outside of Wash, Cle, and Bos, no other team should be willing to give away value for him, with DC being a free agent at seasons end. It just doesn’t make sense for most teams with the impending free agency.
Good point. If there is an nba “intelligencia”, they advise to wait until GSW’s peak is over before going for a title. Clev is barging ahead!
But affording either Cousins or IT after this season may be impossible. There’s a multiplier of about 4 for additional salary. Does the Pelican FO appreciate Tristan T is a key question… he would be a good complement to Davis, but is owed $44mil for 2.5 more years.