A new report suggests that the Los Angeles Lakers could shift their trade deadline focus away from pursuits of Zach LaVine and Dejounte Murray to a trio of players from the Brooklyn Nets that could fit several needs.
The Lakers are just days away from the NBA trade deadline and there have been all sorts of rumors about what the team could due to improve an under .500 team heading into their game on Thursday. For weeks, the franchise has been linked to All-Star guards Zach LaVine and Dejounte Murray, however, deals have not seemed anywhere close to getting done.
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Both guards are stars on their current teams, and those organizations are reportedly looking for big returns to give up impact players from their rosters. Unfortunately, LA does not have a horde of future draft picks or contracts on the roster with a lot of appeal. That is why they may have to target players a tier or two below LaVine and Murray.
Could Los Angeles Lakers shift trade focus to a trio of 3-and-D players from Brooklyn Nets?
On Wednesday, FanDuel and The Athletic’s NBA insider Shams Charania offered up an interesting update about some new names that are coming up in potential trade for the Lakers before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
“Zach LaVine is a player they’ve had an interest in, but that three years and $140 million after this season just makes it unpalatable. Dejounte Murray is going to continue to emerge as the top target for the Lakers. I expect talks to resume before the deadline.
“But beyond that, another scenario to keep an eye on [and] players the Lakers have an interest in I’m told is three guys from the Nets: Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, Royce O’Neale. If you can get a guard and some wing depth in your rotation I think that’s an avenue the Lakers could look into.”
– Shams Charania
While there have been rumors the Brooklyn Nets could want a return similar to two first-round picks for Finney-Smith, he and his two teammates are still far more realistic targets than LaVine and Murray. Furthermore, as Charania mentioned they also address some depth needs the team has for the stretch run of the season.
The Lakers made a slew of deadline deals last year for players to bolster their depth and it was a big win for the organization as they roared to the Western Conference Finals in 2023.