Lakers

The Times contacted rival executives to get a sense of whether they thought Anthony Davis' injury would make the Lakers more aggressive on the trade market.

But two, in a few weeks, the Lakers could be struggling without their star big man — making a deal simultaneously more urgent and less necessary (because, maybe, the hole will be too deep). On the other, Davis is out — again — and the team’s clear needs that have pushed them to the perimeter of the playoff picture make team execs wonder whether or not the present is worth sacrificing the future for. He’s also a former lottery pick, the kind of reclamation project the Lakers have had some success with this year with a player like Lonnie Walker IV. On one hand, the Lakers are on the perimeter of the playoff picture and they have clear needs, especially with Davis out. Reddish isn’t currently in the Knicks rotation so the asking price is expected to eventually dip. And no song captures that feeling better than this wonderfully strange debut between my favorite French dance-rock group and the guy from “Scrooged.” Before this season started, The Times spoke with multiple NBA scouts and executives about the Lakers and their best plan of attack. And Anthony Davis’ recent foot injury, which is being handled with so much vague language that it’s tough to get anyone to confirm that he still has both a right and a left foot, muddies the waters for the team’s future even more. That, plus the early-season timing of any talks, has kept the asking price really high. Another rival said that if negotiated properly, he felt the Davis injury could actually help the Lakers’ position in trade talks. I’m Dan Woike, and I apologize for the brief hiatus as I wrapped up a big Darvin Ham profile. Hey everyone and welcome back the Lakers newsletter.

Those are for 2027 and 2029, when LeBron James and maybe even Davis could be gone. The Lakers have some expiring contracts which can act as salary filler, like ...

Buha also reports the Lakers don’t want to sacrifice future assets because they don’t believe there is a trade that would make them a true contender. Gordon and Richardson are fine targets but the Lakers will want something more for an unprotected future pick which could easily be in the top 3. The Lakers don’t have a lot of assets to deal in the trade market, but they do hold two draft picks of significant interest.

NBA trade history shows that trades don't happen until January on the early side. Most happen within the final week of the trade deadline. There are exceptions, ...

[Russell Westbrook](https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/lakers-news-nba-pundit-predicts-russell-westbrook-wins-major-award-this-season) has been playing better, but packaging him up with some first round picks might be the best option rather than waiting for him to walk for nothing at the end of the season. Alongside the injury issues, [LeBron James](https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/lebron-james-tristan-thompson-ty-lue-and-more-celebrate-rich-pauls-birthday-in-west-hollywood-ak1987) only continues to get older and is still playing out of his mind. Options continue to remain open but insiders suggest the team is looking to wait longer (via

The two-time All Star might want out of Chicago.

LaVine (who is 27) is younger than Davis, so that is an advantage but at full health, Davis (29) is a much, much better player.” “The problem on LaVine is from the Lakers’ side, there is nothing they could trade to Chicago short of Anthony Davis,” the executive said. Which they seem to be doing.”

Lakers' targets to 'watch' and 'likely' trade plan; next NBA star who may want out: Rumour Mill.

Young is in the first of a five-year, $207 million rookie maximum extension with the Hawks that he signed last August. The coach later told reporters that Young did not play due to a “miscommunication.” But so far it has only added up to a .500 record with trade rumours now swirling. The Hawks have struggled with chemistry since reaching the Eastern Conference finals two years ago. The Hawks have lost six of their last 10 games. Young led the Hawks with 34 points, adding six rebounds and six assists. [a report from ](https://theathletic.com/4021985/2022/12/20/chicago-bulls-zach-lavine-demar-derozan/) [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4021985/2022/12/20/chicago-bulls-zach-lavine-demar-derozan/)earlier this week that claimed DeRozan and Chicago’s other big name, Zach LaVine, are dealing with a disconnect on the court. [according to ](https://www.latimes.com/sports/newsletter/2022-12-22/big-question-lakers?utm_id=80682&sfmc_id=1400882) [The L.A. Elsewhere, one of the more interesting teams to follow ahead of the deadline is the Chicago Bulls. As it stands both teams have underachieved and while they are still in the playoff picture, they also need to be mindful of capitalising on trade assets that may not be always be this valuable. Buha reported that the “most likely trade outcome” for the Lakers is “some form of Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn and either the 2027 or 2029 first-round pick (likely protected) for a 3-and-D wing or combo forward that fits well next Davis and James” according to sources. [writing that the Davis injury has “increased” the chances the Lakers are more likely to make a “smaller trade”](https://theathletic.com/4020263/2022/12/21/lakers-trade-rumors-anthony-davis-injury/?source=nbatw) which would involve giving up a first-round pick “at most”.

Given that your Los Angeles Lakers are frequently featured on the NBA's marquee Christmas day scheduling, it may come as no surprise that a certain Laker ...

A terrific two-way perimeter force in his prime, Bryant was a 15-time All-NBA selection and a 12-time All-Defensive Teamer. He scored 33,643 career regular season points, good for fourth-most ever, only behind three other Hall of Fame luminaries who spent at least part of their careers in the purple and gold (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, and Karl Malone). Bryant's Lakers appeared in 18 Christmas day games over the course of his 20-season career, and he was healthy for 16 of the contests.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been the most watched team in terms of those expected to make a deal ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

There have undoubtedly been a lot of rumblings as the Bulls have been one of the more disappointing teams in the league and there is some belief that they could look to blow things up. But things have not gone well in Chicago this season, leading some to believe he may be on his way out and the Lakers could be a preferred destination. Most rumors surrounding the Lakers have said that the front office is expected to lean towards a smaller deal,

There's a lot of shooters on that list. Bojan Bogdanovic, Evan Fournier, Kyle Kuzma, Buddy Hield, Kyrie Irving, Doug McDermott, Eric Gordon, Alec Burks, Terry ...

Here's how all these guys are shooting from three this season: However, with trade season almost upon us, we should expect the Lakers to be pretty active. The trade for Hield and Turner will always be intriguing, as they would add the exact two pieces LA is missing — shooting and a defensive big. In addition, other names that have come up are DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, Kyrie Irving and Doug McDermott." Fortunately, they have their eyes on a lot of potential options, as reported by Obviously it's still early in the season, but if AD is out an extended period of time, it could only get worse.

Just a few months into his fresh $215 million deal, two-time Chicago Bulls All-Star swingman Zach LaVine may have his sights set on your Los Angeles Lakers, ...

This season, he is averaging 21.7 points on .447/.366/.824 shooting splits, 4.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals a night, but lacks the same explosiveness around the rim that made him so special in 2021-22 pre-injury. The Bulls sport an identical record to the Lakers, 13-18, and seem doomed to miss even the Eastern Conference's play-in tournament with ex-Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, their $20 million-per-season starter, still on the shelf following two knee surgeries this year. “LaVine wants to go to the Lakers, that has been pretty clear for a while now," a rival Eastern Conference executive informs Deveney.

Anthony Davis has been unavailable to play for your Los Angeles Lakers with a loosely defined "right foot injury" since the second half of L.A.'s most ...

At the time Ham spoke on the issue yesterday, Davis had been through five days' worth of tests, without a definitive answer as to what was ailing. In the intervening few days, the team has gone 1-2 in its games without Davis, despite the solid play of backup big man Thomas Bryant in AD's absence. We know he's going to miss at least the next month's worth of games.

Even if Anthony Davis misses an extended stretch with his foot injury, the Lakers may not be out of luck when it comes to trade talks.