During trade rumors, the Los Angeles Lakers are a popular destination, and this year has been no exception. However, thus far, they have shown patience by allowing their team to recover and resolve some of its problems.
Additionally, there have been some failed trade negotiations.
In the event that the Charlotte Hornets decide to acquire six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry, then that calculated strategy may pay off.
The Lakers should keep an eye on Kyle Lowry, according to club and league sources. He could be available if Charlotte buys him out after he was moved there from Miami this week, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic on January 26.
Terry Rozier was a previous Lakers target that the Miami Heat acquired by trading Lowry to the Hornets.
37-year-old Lowry has joined his new team. However, Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak is still searching for the most practical solution, thus there are currently no plans for him to suit up for them.
This season, the 6-foot guard has averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. In addition, he has a career-high shooting percentage of 38.5% from downtown, which he achieved when winning a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
Lowry might be a wise choice for a number of reasons. Not to mention that all it might take to get him is a roster slot and the veteran minimum wage.
The Lakers have a very high threshold for even entertaining the possibility of trading Austin Reaves, but it is one of their remaining choices. Alternatively, they need to bundle Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell in some way. They are all of low trade value.
Due to injury, Hachimura and Vicent have missed a significant portion of the season.
Russell has improved since returning to the starting lineup in his most recent games. Though it hasn’t precisely improved his trade worth, that has increased his value to the Lakers.
The Lakers’ situation is made more difficult by Russell’s player option in the second year of his two-year, $36 million contract.
The Lakers’ situation is made more difficult by Russell’s player option in the second year of his two-year, $36 million contract
As if the Lakers’ negotiations with the Hawks weren’t already complicated enough, the Utah Jazz have surfaced as a new possible contender.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported on January 26 that “the Jazz have also registered interest in several veterans, including Murray, sources said, to possibly hold the position in the interim, while they are confident in rookie Keyonte George’s fitness as their point guard of the future.”
It’s unclear how committed the Jazz (23-23) are to spending money to sign Murray. They are just throwing in another hat, though. A ring that occasionally is rumored to contain the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers won’t have to wait for Murray until the trade deadline of February 8.
Would they act before then because of that thinking and the fact that LeBron James’ 21st season is almost approaching? Or are they going to wait patiently and maybe add Lowry later?
Josh Buckhalter covers the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, concentrating on the Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Chicago Bulls. Since 2016, he has written on the NBA and NFL for FanSided, Last Word on Sports, and Clocker Sports, among other publications. Illinois’ Villa Park is home to him. Observe Josh
