best read for me today was the Lakers and trade talks in Bleacher report.....I see that giving uo Austin Reaves is NOT an option.......
The Los Angeles Lakers head toward this season's trade deadline much in the same manner as they did the last one: underperforming expectations to such a substantial degree that major roster reshuffling could be required.
The biggest detriment to their current success is a malfunctioning, space-constricted offense that ranks among the league's 10 worst. They can't shoot, don't have enough downhill threats in their backcourt and have a general need for more consistent support scoring.
That's why they've so often found themselves linked to the top point-producers on the market. A deal for Zach LaVine is seemingly off the table, but his teammate, DeMar DeRozan, could be a possible target. And while trade talks around Dejounte Murray have reportedly "stalled," per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, they are "expected to pick back up closer to the deadline."
Murray seems gettable, but maybe only if L.A. is open to giving up Austin Reaves. It doesn't seem like that is in the cards. Per Buha, the Lakers would only move Reaves for "either a clear-cut All-Star—someone better than Murray or LaVine, for example—or multiple rotation upgrades."
Don't look for the Lakers to land a star. They don't have enough assets to acquire one, particularly if Reaves is off the table.
Instead, look for L.A. to wind up doing something similar to last season, when multiple trades brought back several additions to the rotation, including Rui Hachimura, D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Who could head to Hollywood this time around? It's too soon to say for certain, but Buha mentioned Bruce Brown, Jerami Grant, Terry Rozier, Gary Trent Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale as possible targets. Most would help address the club's shooting shortage, and some would improve their perimeter defense, off-the-dribble attacking and shot-creation.
A double-dip into the trade market to add a guard who packs a scoring punch and a forward who contributes something on both ends could be the surprise ending to the franchise's latest star-search.
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