Confirmed deal : NBA Insider Reveals Lakers Will Try To Trade With Nets, Wizards, Trail Blazers, Raptors And Jazz

 

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their worst defeat of the NBA season on Wednesday night, as they were blown out 134-93 by the Miami Heat. It was a clear sign that the Lakers need to improve their roster. According to Eric Pinus of Bleacher Report, the Lakers cannot add extra salary to any trade and will try to trade with weaker teams like the Nets, Wizards, Jazz, Trail Blazers, Raptors, and the Jazz.

 

The report from Pinus also mentioned D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Christian Wood as names to watch for as trade assets. Russell was mentioned in another report as one of three Lakers players who are available for trades. Hood-Schifino and Wood weren’t mentioned in that report, meaning the Lakers have several stars they are open to parting ways with.

 

D’Angelo Russell is in the final year of his contract and makes $18.6 million. He’s currently underperforming, averaging just 12.4 points, 4.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game. Russell provides a cap-filling point guard who isn’t playing winning basketball, which could be an attractive prospect for teams that are looking to tank going forward.

 

Jalen Hood-Schifino is in his second season in the NBA and playing inconsistent basketball, averaging 2.0 points, 0.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He’s in the second year of his rookie contract and makes $3.8 million a year. A young rebuilding team would like to add another young star with potential to their team.

 

As for Christian Wood, he hasn’t even played this season, as he has suffered from a knee injury. Last season, he played 50 games and averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He’s earning $3.0 million this season and is in the final year of his contract. As an experienced big, he can provide decent contributions at a cheap price for rebuilding teams

 

The Lakers can target several players from the teams listed above. From the Nets, the Lakers are rumored to have an interest in Cameron Johnson.