The Los Angeles Lakers have been in the middle of an injury plagued season and as they fall farther down in the west, trading deadline talk and rumors will only continue with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash out if action, making deals for Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans or Jameer Nelson possibilities.
According to ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with a significant amount of injuries this season at a number of positions, but none harder hit than at point guard and now that the Pelicans have made it clear that Tyreke Evans is available, could the Lakers get in on a deal?
The Lakers have been dealing with various trade rumors all season, including ones regarding star Pau Gasol, who is the most likely player to move at the deadline. Gasol has been mentioned numerous times in trade reports this season and he nearly was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a trade for former teammate Andrew Bynum, but he ended up getting dealt to the Chicago Bulls for Luol Deng and then waived. Gasol has been the most consistent player for the Lakers this season and his expiring contract will be attractive to teams and that may spur the Lakers to make a move.
The team is in a tough position now, as they are caught in the middle of tanking and trying to make one of the bottom spots in the west in the playoffs and they will have to decide which is more important. The Lakers have remained steadfast about competing for a postseason spot in the west, but with their record and the way they are playing it could be very tough. If the team trades Gasol or others, it's more likely that the team is headed to the NBA draft lottery and for some fans that's a favorable outcome.
The Lakers have been through a couple tough years and heading into the 2014-15 season things could finally be looking up. The Dwight Howard trade did not work out how the team wanted and now Howard is with the Houston Rockets, while Bryant has dealt with significant injuries over the past two seasons, including an Achilles injury that forced him to miss the playoffs and part if this season, as well as a recent knee injury that has kept him sidelined for a month and now many are wondering if these are the literal last days if Kobe. Many think Bryant will have to change his style once he gets back on the court and some fans have said that Bryant should remain out for the entire season to heal up since the Lakers are going nowhere in the west.
