The Los Angeles Lakers are 20-19 on the year, good for sixth place in the Western Conference. Given that this group came into the season with title aspirations, clearly something needs to change.
LA has made it no secret that it wants to move on from Russell Westbrook’s massive, unfortunate contract. The front office has spoken to not one, but two separate teams regarding getting something done.
However, a deal on the Westbrook front doesn’t seem feasible at the moment.
Fortunately, that’s not the only move Rob Pelinka and Co. are working on.
According to ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst, the Lakers are attempting to move two other players as well.
Windhorst says the Lakers are looking to trade DeAndre Jordan and Kent Bazemore pic.twitter.com/K37ktOtGeJ
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) January 5, 2022
“From teams that I’ve talked to, they are out there,” he said.
“With LeBron starting at center and eventually getting Anthony Davis back, they are looking to move DeAndre Jordan. Not necessarily for another player, but to move him so they can open up a roster spot. Kent Bazemore is another player that they’ve been willing to talk about.
“Their goal is: open up a roster spot. The Rondo move looks like it was gonna be designed for Stanley Johnson to fill. But they may look at the buyout market for another player or two.”
At this point, the team’s issues with DeAndre Jordan are a matter of public record.
The Lakers have been rumored to be contenders for at least one star who is on the trade block. But at this stage it’s unclear how viable of a potential move that actually is.
Jusuf Nurkic sends an ominous message to Tyler Herro. https://t.co/Up1bwVyie9
— Game 7 (@game7__) January 6, 2022
If nothing big gets done, then LA will need to add a bunch of little available pieces like DeMarcus Cousins.
One way or another, the front office is being proactive in trying to fix what has ailed the Lakers thus far this season. Whether they’ll ultimately be successful or not remains to be seen.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
