Los Angeles Lakers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Scotto’s Latest: Pelicans, Gordon, Carroll, Nuggets

February 2nd, 2018 at 10:11am CST by Luke Adams

Before sending Omer Asik to Chicago, the Pelicans explored trading the veteran center to a number of other teams, according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic. League sources tells Scotto that the Hawks and Pelicans recently talked about a deal that would have sent Asik and a first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova.

The Mavericks discussed a deal that would have seen them take on both Asik and Alexis Ajinca – along with a first-round pick – in exchange for Wesley Matthews, but Dallas was hesitant to take on two undesirable multiyear contracts, says Scotto.

Additionally, the Pelicans proposed a pair of trades to the Lakers, according to Scotto, who reports that one would have sent Asik and a first-round pick to L.A. for Jordan Clarkson, while the other would have sent Ajinca and a second-round pick to the Lakers for Julius Randle. That second deal could technically still happen, but I can’t imagine it would appeal to the Lakers.

Scotto’s piece for The Athletic is jam-packed with more noteworthy trade rumors, so let’s dive in and round up some highlights…

The Magic‘s front office has “left no stone unturned” as the team explores potential trades. Scotto hears that the club has even quietly gauged trade interest in Aaron Gordon, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. I imagine Orlando would require a pretty overwhelming offer to seriously consider moving Gordon.
Several teams have expressed interest in Nets forward DeMarre Carroll, according to Scotto, who identifies the Heat as one of those teams.
As we heard on Thursday, the Bulls are still very much open for business. Robin Lopez is a trade candidate, but Chicago wants a first-round pick in a deal for the veteran center, per Scotto.
Scotto names Malik Beasley, Kenneth Faried, and Emmanuel Mudiay as trade candidates for the Nuggets, noting that the team could be a suitor for Jazz guard Rodney Hood.
Hood isn’t the only Jazz guard who could be available at the deadline — Scotto hears that Utah has also explored the trade market for Ricky Rubio.
Several teams are monitoring Pistons forward Stanley Johnson. Scotto notes that Johnson was one player the Magic coveted when they discussed deals with Detroit earlier in the season, and adds that the Spurs have interest too.
Speaking of the Spurs, they’re one of the teams – as are the division-rival Mavericks – that has expressed interest in Knicks center Willy Hernangomez.
The Wizards are keeping an eye on the trade market and buyout market for a backup point guard, writes Scotto.
Fourth-year forward Noah Vonleh has been shopped by the Trail Blazers, according to Scotto. In addition to keeping tabs on DeAndre Jordan, Portland is also interested in acquiring a small forward.
Executives around the NBA believe that Raptors swingman Norman Powell could be a trade candidate during the offseason due to the emergence of rookie OG Anunoby.

Pacific Notes: Lopez, Rivers, Clippers, Knight, Labissiere

February 1st, 2018 at 10:54pm CST by marksuleymanov

Brook Lopez‘s frustrations with the 2017/18 season, his first with the Lakers, seem to have reached a boiling point, writes Bill Oram of the Orange County Register. Lopez played just nine minutes in the Lakers’ loss to the Magic on Wednesday, his lowest single-game total in over three years.

Lopez, 29, is playing for a contract next offseason and thus far, he has posted career lows across every major statistical category — a far cry from the player who averaged 20.0 PPG last season while adding a three-point shot to his repertoire. The center will return to Brooklyn on Friday to face the Nets in his first game against his former team; in the meantime, it’s all about adjustment.

“On the court, I can be very visible, with my emotions [showing on my face],” Lopez said to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “So, yeah, just trying to control myself, breathe a little bit, and just keep cool because it was an unfortunate game for us. Just watching it, it was tough to be out there. Just trying to get settled a little bit.”

Lopez said that he has not had discussions with his agent about the possibility of pursuing a buyout if he decides he wants out of Los Angeles.

Check out other Pacific Division news below:

Clippers guard Austin Rivers is on track to return from a right ankle injury on February 9, the day after the NBA trade deadline, Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times tweets. Rivers, who is having his best season to date, has missed the Clippers’ last 16 games.
Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated examines how the Clippers‘ use of two-way contracts this season has shaped their roster.
Suns guard Brandon Knight tore his ACL in the offseason and is expected to miss the entire season. However, with a lot of money still owed to him, Knight tells Scott Bordow of Arizona Central Sports that he can still contribute to the team when healthy.
Kings forward Skal Labissiere will miss 2-to-3 weeks with a rotator cuff muscle strain, the team announced. Labissiere has been hampered by the shoulder ailment since mid-January.

Kyler’s Latest: G. Hill, Kings, Mavs, Randle, Parker

January 31st, 2018 at 2:03pm CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of this week’s massive Blake Griffin trade, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders assessed the trade market in an effort to determine which teams may be the next to make moves. We covered some of Kyler’s Clippers-related items on Tuesday, and a Rodney Hood/Stanley Johnson note from his article was reported elsewhere, but there are plenty more tidbits worth rounding up. Let’s dive in…

The rumored deal involving George Hill between the Cavaliers and Kings isn’t dead yet, but both teams are exploring the market in search of trades they might like more, per Kyler. The two teams could revisit a Hill swap on or before February 8.
The Kings still appear willing to move a young player or two for a first-round pick, with Skal Labissiere and Malachi Richardson among those trade candidates, Kyler writes.
The Mavericks‘ preferred target is Julius Randle, but they may start to seriously consider Labissiere if the Lakers don’t engage in Randle talks, says Kyler. Still, Mavs sources tell Kyler that they place a lot of value on first-round picks, so it sounds like they’ll be reluctant to move one.
Bucks sources have “aggressively downplayed” the idea that the team will trade forward Jabari Parker, who is returning this week from an ACL injury. However, the team acknowledges that its cap situation could complicate contract talks with the former No. 2 overall pick this offseason. Bucks ownership appears willing to commit to Parker if management wants to lock him up, according to Kyler, who notes that the forward would be a prime trade chip if Milwaukee wants to make a splash for a big-name center.

Julius Randle Stepping Up Across Board; Lonzo Ball Making Gradual Progress

January 30th, 2018 at 10:52pm CST by Austin Kent

A move back into the starting lineup has helped Lakers forward Julius Randle take his game to another level, Bill Oram of The Orange County Register writes. The 23-year-old has averaged 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds in just 26.5 minutes of action.

Randle, who started the season off the bench after two years as the team’s starting power forward, was promoted by Lakers head coach Luke Walton to be a physical presence for the squad and collect rebounds.

All in, Randle has registered seven double-doubles in the month of January alone while also taking major steps defensively. The move into the starting lineup, Oram writes, comes with more responsibility on that end of the ball considering that the Lakers tend to play man-to-man with their starters while switching everything with their reserves.

Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball has started testing his knee laterally, Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times tweets. Ball still isn’t practicing with the team but seems to be making gradual progress. Ball has missed seven straight games.

Lowe’s Latest: Clippers, Griffin, Lakers, Pistons

January 30th, 2018 at 10:46am CST by Luke Adams

On the surface, the Clippers‘ return for Blake Griffin doesn’t seem overwhelming, but it’s probably the best they could have done, given how massive his contract is, writes Zach Lowe of ESPN.com.

While Lowe believes Griffin and Andre Drummond can coexist as a productive frontcourt tandem, he notes that the new-look Pistons appear pretty similar to the old Clippers, with Reggie Jackson in place of Chris Paul. It’s hard to envision a path to anything better than the “super-mediocrity” for the Pistons, according to Lowe, who defines “super-mediocrity” as topping out around 50 wins and not being able to legitimately contend for a title.

Lowe’s piece on the Griffin trade also includes several notes and rumors worth rounding up, so let’s check those out…

There wasn’t much league-wide demand for Griffin, given his injury history and his contract, sources tell Lowe. Matching Griffin’s salary without sending out another elite player or a toxic contract also would’ve been difficult for many teams around the NBA.
The Lakers are one team that seemingly would have been a good fit for Griffin, since they want to add star players and could have used Brook Lopez‘s $22.6MM+ expiring contract for matching purposes. However, it doesn’t appear they seriously considered making a play for Griffin, according to Lowe, who acknowledges that the Lakers’ lack of a 2018 first-round pick might’ve been an issue if the two teams had explored a deal.
Lowe isn’t convinced that the Griffin deal makes the Clippers any more likely to move DeAndre Jordan or Lou Williams. The club will still listen to offers and explore deals for both players, but there’s no more urgency to trade them than there was 48 hours ago, per Lowe.
In examining the Pistons‘ supporting cast and remaining assets, Lowe notes that the team could have had Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell instead of Stanley Johnson and Luke Kennard. While it’s easy to identify “what-ifs” of that nature for many teams, sources tell Lowe that Detroit debated between Booker and Johnson almost right up until making that 2015 pick.

Pistons Make Avery Bradley Available In Trade Talks

January 29th, 2018 at 8:58am CST by Luke Adams

8:58am: The Lakers offered Jordan Clarkson in one version of a potential Bradley trade, according to Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press (Twitter link), who isn’t sure if those discussions will go anywhere. Bradley and his expiring contract would make some sense as a target for the Lakers, who are looking to create major cap flexibility for the summer of 2018.

8:45am: Less than seven months after acquiring him from the Celtics, the Pistons have made Avery Bradley available in trade discussions, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Bradley will be a free agent at season’s end.

According to Wojnarowski, the asking price for Bradley is “significant,” since the Pistons initially traded for him in the hopes of locking him up to a long-term deal this summer. However, the team doesn’t want to risk losing him for nothing.

Detroit, currently three games out of the No. 8 seed in the East, has been one of the NBA’s most aggressive clubs when it comes to exploring the trade market and seeking out potential upgrades. Even as the Pistons have slipped out of the playoff picture, they’re not planning on a fire sale, according to Rod Beard of The Detroit News, who tweets that the club is gauging Bradley’s value and “seeing what’s out there.”

Bradley, 27, has struggled a little with his shot this season, as his .409 FG% is his worst mark since 2012/13. However, he’s still knocking down 38.1% of his three-point attempts, and is contributing 15.0 PPG to go along with solid perimeter defense.

Bradley, who has a cap charge of approximately $8.8MM this season, will be unrestricted – rather than restricted – as a free agent this offseason, which may limit his value for potential suitors. Still, a club that trades for the veteran guard would acquire his Bird rights, which could come in handy in July, since few teams are projected to have significant cap room. Bird rights allow a club to re-sign a player without using cap space, and Wojnarowski suggests that Bradley could command upwards of $20MM annually as a free agent.

Lakers Will Not Re-Sign Nigel Hayes

January 28th, 2018 at 9:49pm CST by Austin Kent

The Lakers will not re-sign forward Nigel Hayes after his 10-day contract expired tonight, Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times tweets. The 23-year-old rookie saw action in two games during his stint with the club, seeing a grand total of 11 minutes.

Hayes, an undrafted combo forward out of Wisconsin, will hit the open market while Los Angeles frees up a roster spot with which they can test drive other free agents.

With a glut of forwards already on board in L.A., Hayes’ chances of breaking into the Lakers’ rotation were slim from the start.

Hayes previously went through training camp with the Knicks.

Lakers Not Built For Sustained Rebuild

January 28th, 2018 at 3:54pm CST by marksuleymanov

The Lakers have been in a rebuild mode for several seasons as they have gone through numerous head coaches, front office hires, and roster changes. However, Mark Heisler of the Orange County Register writes that the Lakers are not cut out to be in a rebuild mode but rather to shortcut through the phase in an attempt to compete.

Ball Close To Returning; Nance Reacts To Trade Rumors

January 27th, 2018 at 10:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Lakers are expecting Lonzo Ball to return soon from his injured left knee, possibly before the end of the current road trip, writes Bill Oram of The Orange County Register. The injury, which has officially been classified as a sprained MCL, took place January 13.

Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. was slightly surprised to hear his name brought up in trade rumors for the first time in his career. Appearing on a podcast with Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, Nance said he realizes it’s part of life in the NBA. “At the end of the day, it’s a business,” he said. “If something like that were to happen, if I were to get traded to a different team, it would be a team that would value me. I try to look at it like that, just as an opportunity.”

Kyler’s Latest: Nuggets, Whiteside, Mavs, Kings

January 25th, 2018 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Nuggets veterans Kenneth Faried and Emmanuel Mudiay could be had in trades at this year’s deadline, league sources tell Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, who suggests that the asking prices for those players likely wouldn’t be too high. I identified both Faried and Mudiay as potential trade candidates in my look at the Northwest on Wednesday.

If the Nuggets become a seller, Will Barton would also be a very intriguing trade chip, Kyler writes. However, that may be wishful thinking on the part of rival teams. Denver currently holds a playoff spot in the West and Barton has played the second-most minutes on the club, so it seems unlikely that the Nuggets would move him. Ultimately, the team may not end up trading anyone — Kyler suggests there’s a sense around the NBA that Denver isn’t looking to make a deal as aggressively as several other teams.

Here’s more from Kyler:

Sources close to the Heat acknowledge that teams have called about Hassan Whiteside, but say he probably won’t be made available at the deadline, writes Kyler.
The Mavericks “have had eyes” for Julius Randle, and would be a potential trade partner for L.A. if the Lakers move the big man. Kyler refers to Dallas a “open for business” in terms of trades.
According to Kyler, the prevailing thought around the NBA is that Willy Hernangomez is the player most likely to be moved by the Knicks, though he’s unlikely to net a significant return.
While many league insiders think Nikola Mirotic will end up in Utah, the Jazz don’t currently seem to be on board with sending a first-round pick to the Bulls, says Kyler.
Team sources tell Kyler that Garrett Temple and Zach Randolph are more likely than not to finish the season in Sacramento, but the Kings have been “very open and receptive” to trying to find their veterans new homes.
Although the Magic are viewed as a team that could be active at the deadline, the team is reluctant to take back long-term salary and would be happy to ride out the season and make changes in the summer if necessary, per Kyler.