The LA Lakers have had a tough start to the season and the team may look at a trade for Greg Monroe, Dion Waiters or Jeff Green, as Julius Randle fractured his leg and the team could use an injection of some talent to give Kobe Bryant some help and this comes as Steve Nash was lost for the season, thrusting Jeremy Lin into the starting point guard role for Los Angeles.
The Lakers have started the season 0-4 and the loss of Randle has not helped matters, as he was expected to be a major contributor as a rookie this season. Kobe Bryant and everyone else realized coming into this season that the Lakers would not be a great team, but Byron Scott expected better play than this and that could lead to a trade down the line. The Lakers are planning on going big in free agency next summer, but if things keep going this way they may look at a trade to try and save things this season.
According to ESPN.com, Randle will be out for the season after fracturing his leg and having surgery and that is yet another major hit for the Lakers. Randle is just 19 years old and still has a career ahead of him, but now his season is totally derailed and it pulls another talented player off the court for the Lakers. The team is already ailing at point guard with Steve Nash and now Randle will be out and that puts more pressure on the bench. The team brought back Jordan Hill and Ryan Kelly from last season, but Byron Scott was hopeful that Randle could come in and contribute right away.
ESPN.com writer Chad Ford and local blogger Baxter Holmes have written about potential trade options for the Lakers, but right now there isn't much out there. A big name like Rajon Rondo could be an option, but that would be closer to the trading deadline than right now. Both Greg Monroe and Dion Waiters have been mentioned, but those two names have plenty of complications tied up in them. Monroe signed a one year qualifying offer with the Pistons, so he can control his trade options and he also has expressed interest in possibly staying with Detroit.
Waiters has been mentioned in trade rumors with the Cavaliers since last season, but the Lakers do not have much to give in return and reports have the Cavs interested in Timofey Mozgov with the Nuggets. Waiters is a talented player, but he has not been able to put things together yet and while the Lakers could make a move, it may not be worth it if they have to give up any draft picks. Ford writes that the team needs to being in more assets that are valuable and while Waiters could be one of those, they likely would have to give up something of value and that could be too much for the team right now.
The Lakers come into the week after a loss against the Warriors and now they have opened the year with four straight losses. The team plays against the Suns next and then they will matchup against the Hornets. Kobe Bryant had 28 points against the Warriors and is averaging 24 points per game this season.
