The LA Lakers could look at trades this season for depth behind D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Roy Hibbert and Jordan Clarkson, as players like Mario Chalmers, Jose Calderon, Chris Andersen, Brandon Jennings, Ricky Rubio and Jrue Holiday could be shopped this year and this comes as Norris Cole remains on the free agent market. UPDATE: Yahoo Sports reports that the Lakers are considering signing Metta World Peace, aka Ron Artest back on a contract.
Check here for more on the Lakers possibility of signing back Metta World Peace.
The Lakers have made a number of significant moves this offseason to improve over last year, but there are still some areas of concern. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers would like to add some experience and veteran depth behind Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell at point guard. The team also could use another big man, perhaps someone that could play power forward and center behind Roy Hibbert and alongside Robert Sacre.
According to RealGM, the Lakers looked into the trade for Ty Lawson before the Rockets pulled the deal off and that shows that the team was in fact interested in adding a veteran. The team is confident in Russell and Clarkson as the future core of the roster, but for now another player with some experience could make a huge difference. Norris Cole is on the market, but that is unlikely will him being restricted and that could put trades for Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon or Ricky Rubio in play.
Rubio and Jamal Crawford are reportedly targets for the Knicks for trades and if they are available to move, the Lakers eventually could look at a deal as well. Mario Chalmers is being shopped by the Heat and the Miami Herald reports that the team would like to deal the guard by the time the season starts. Chalmers has experience in the playoffs and he is in the final year of his contract, so taking him on would not be a major commitment.
Markieff Morris is also an option on the trade market and while the Lakers are mostly set at power forward, they could look at making a move. The team has Julius Randle coming back from a serious injury and Morris comes in fairly cheap for the next few years and it could be worth it to explore a deal. Morris is coming off of his best season as a pro and he has proven to be an athletic player on both ends of the floor. The Lakers could use some more athleticism there and while a deal is unlikely, Morris reportedly has demanded to be traded out of Phoenix.
The team has signed Jonathan Holmes and Michael Frazier this summer to deals and those two will compete in training camp for a chance to make the roster. The team also has Robert Upshaw as an option, but right now Mitch Kupchak is not prepared to say if he will be on the roster. The Lakers summer league session gave the team the chance to assess young players and camp will be the next chance to decide where the team needs more depth moving forward. The Lakers will have some roster decision's to make at the end of the 15-man list in camp.
Check here for more on the Lakers roster options and future trade target possibilities with Mario Chalmers, Jose Calderon, Ricky Rubio and more.