The Lakers will be patient about assessing potential trades, team sources tell Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Numerous injuries have made it difficult to evaluate the current roster, so the front office will continue to study the type of moves that need to be made and wait to see what opportunities might develop if teams such as the Raptors, Wizards, Jazz, Nets or Hornets decide to have a “fire sale” before the February deadline, according to Buha.
December 15 marks the unofficial start of trade season as most of the free agents who signed this summer will become eligible to be moved. For L.A., that list includes D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes. Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves will become trade-eligible a month later.
Buha notes that the Lakers have already been linked to Zach LaVine in trade rumors, along with fellow Bulls DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso. But it appears any deal may be a couple of months away.
There’s more on the Lakers:
- Finding the best role for Reaves should be one of coach Darvin Ham‘s priorities for the rest of the season, Buha states in the same story. Reaves began the season as a starter, but he has put up better stats since being moved to a sixth-man role. Buha says the early-season slump could have been caused by fatigue from playing for Team USA in the World Cup or it could have been a result of adapting to more minutes at point guard. Regardless, Ham will eventually have to settle on a fifth starter from a group that includes Reaves, Prince, Reddish and Max Christie.
- Meeting with reporters before tonight’s game, Ham confirmed that Jarred Vanderbilt will make his season debut after missing 20 games with bursitis in his left heel, Buha tweets. Hachimura has been medically cleared after missing the past four games following surgery for a nasal fracture, but Ham said “it’s more of a touch-and-feel thing with Rui” regarding how much he will play.
- Vincent has only appeared in four games because of a left knee effusion, but he’s getting closer to a return, Ham added, saying that he’s lifting weights, shooting and running on an anti-gravity treadmill (Twitter link). “He’s progressing along,” Ham said. “Not as of yet, but he’s progressing really, really good.”
Lakers aren’t in any rush at 11-9, West is really competitive this year and they have really good contracts to move in Dlo, Prince, Vincent, Hachimura and Reaves.
Looking at potential targets they should only make moves if it makes them better not just chase names. Zach is all offence no defence and Reaves last year stepped up massively in the playoffs and does play some defence. Although Zach may nice in nicely you’d also have to give up another 28 mil in contracts roughly which means bye bye Rui and co so I’d say it’s not worth it.
Scary Terry and Miles Bridges could be good targets for the lakers if Charlotte decides to sell up. Reaves would fit well aswell with LaMelo and Miller.
If Toronto decides to sell up the trio of GTJ, Thad and Otto could make solid additions. GTJ can be a starter or bench player. Otto 3 and D and Thad good veteran minutes. I’d give up Rui and Gabe for those three.
Toronto does that trade even if they aren’t selling