The Los Angeles Lakers are very limited in the moves that they can make, but something has to be done as the team is clearly lacking pieces to be successful this season. The Lakers managed to snap a three-game losing streak with a win over the Sacramento Kings to extend their record to 6-16 on the season. While they are not the worst in the league, they certainly are far from competitive and the team is being linked to trades that could be made before the deadline.
The Lakers will likely not make much of an impact in the upcoming NBA Draft. Unless the team can earn a top five pick, their first-round selection will go to the Phoenix Suns. This means in order to get impact players on the roster, trades or free agent signings are a must. It is well known that the Lakers will have a significant amount of salary cap space to burn in the offseason, but could they be eyeing trades instead?
According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Lakers are taking a serious look at acquiring Brook Lopez of the Brooklyn Nets. The asking price for the center will determine this deal. The Nets have said that Lopez, along with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, are available at the right price, something the Lakers may or may not have.
The only thing the Lakers can offer is salary cap relief. They are limited in their draft picks and assets making the likelihood of this being finalized very slim. Lopez is not the asset he once was. While he is a rebounding machine, his lengthy history with foot issues will keep him back. The Lakers will have to convince Brooklyn to lower the asking price for the center. If the team is willing to absorb his contract for the year, it could get done.
The Lakers could certainly use Lopez. They recently benched Carlos Boozer who was struggling to start the year and lack defensive help. Head coach Byron Scott announced that Ed Davis would start in his spot, something Boozer was not thrilled with.
"Obviously it was a surprise," Boozer said, via ESPN.com. "I didn't expect that, but if helps our team win, I'm a team player. That's just his opinion. I have a different opinion. I'll keep it to myself."
If Lopez is too expensive, a deal for Roy Hibbert would be out of the question. The Lakers were linked to the Indiana Pacers big man for some time, but if they cannot afford to get Lopez, they will not meet the Pacers demand for Hibbert. The Lakers could chase Timofey Mozgov who is reportedly available from the Denver Nuggets. Greg Monroe could also be an option if the Detroit Pistons decide they cannot re-sign him in free agency.