Trevor Ariza isn’t the only veteran trade candidate the Lakers have looked into acquiring, according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. As Deveney details, the Lakers have also been eyeing players like Wayne Ellington and Terrence Ross as they look to shore up their depth on the wing.
Rival executives tell Deveney that the Lakers have been among the “most aggressive pursuers” of trades in the early going this season. While the front office doesn’t want to give up its top young prospects for a short-term fix and likely won’t make a deal that compromises the team’s 2019 cap flexibility, the Lakers want to fortify their rotation in order to give this year’s club a chance to make a deep playoff run, writes Deveney.
Ellington, who signed a one-year, $6.27MM deal with the Heat during the 2018 offseason, has the power to veto any trade, but might welcome a move to a contender if Miami continues to struggle. Sources tell Deveney that the Heat would be open to sending the veteran sharpshooter to a playoff team for a first-round pick — that’s a lot to ask for a role player on an expiring contract, but if the pick has protections and Miami takes back an unwanted contract, it may not be unrealistic.
Meanwhile, although Deveney identifies Ross as another potential target, he concedes that the 27-year-old Magic swingman may have too much value to be a realistic option for the Lakers, given what Los Angeles is willing to surrender in a potential trade. Ross, who is also in a contract year, is enjoying the best season of his career, with career highs so far in PPG (14.1) and FG% (.453), among other categories.
There has also been chatter that the Lakers may pursue another big man, per Deveney, though he acknowledges that’s unlikely. There aren’t as many viable frontcourt targets on the trade market, and after signing Tyson Chandler earlier this season, L.A. probably has a stronger need for wing depth.
Don’t get what the Lakers’ management team of “Johnson & James” is thinking – the wing position seems to be an area of strength for this team while the areas of weakness seem to be inside defense and offense (although now somewhat better with Chandler) and getting some consistency from the backcourt – especially at the lead guard.
They need shooters
Why would they need another lead guard as you say when they have ball, rondo and James who handle the ball? Centers we have aren’t about scoing big. They are about playing defense and scoring when they can. The team 14-5 since November 1st. But that doesn’t mean they can’t look to improve where ever they can.
Long-term, Rondo & Ball isn’t good enough for ambitions and there has to be somebody besides James running the offense.
Short-term, he Lakers are not set up to trade for players that can make a difference, at least more than KCP can. For years now their thing has been improvement by FA signings.
It would be better to not rattle their existing players.
You don’t watch them at all… since adding Chandler they have been one of the best defensive teams in the league. You can never have enough 3 and D type players. KCP can only really play one position so turning him into an ariza type player makes sense because ariza can play the 2 through 4.
Ellington for a 2021 or 2022 first round pick
Who you think Ellington is the dude shooting 36% no one in there right mind should offer any kind of first round pick.
No!
At least right now, it appears that Miami and Orlando are still trying to win this year. Until that changes, I’m not seeing them trade away a reasonably priced and productive rotation player with an expiring deal.
I’d trade a first that’s protected enough to probably become 2 second rounders but nothing more. Not for a guy that honestly won’t play much. Especially seeing what the Lakers have done recently with late 1st/early second rounders: Kuzma, Hart, Nance Jr., Clarkson
Well would the Lakers really want a guy who shooting 36% this season. I don’t see how Ellington improve the team
All he shoots are 3’s so that 36% doesn’t look that bad considering
Deal get it done Lakers