The LA Lakers have been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and at the trade deadline, they could look to sell, as names like Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash, Carlos Boozer, Ed Davis or Ronnie Price could be targets for contending teams and this comes as Los Angeles plans on chasing Rajon Rondo and Marc Gasol as free agents in the summer of 2015 to join Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers have just five wins on the season and they are looking like draft lottery participants rather than a postseason team and while that was expected, the franchise was hoping things would be better than this. Bryant is playing well this season after coming back from serious surgery and now he has the chance to stick with the Lakers a few more years and hopefully contend for one more championship. According to ESPN.com, the Lakers may look at trying to trade Nash, as his contract his valuable despite the fact that he is injured this season.
Marc Stein at ESPN.com wrote on Twitter that teams looking for salary cap relief next year could look at deals with Lin or Nash, as both players are on expiring deals. The Lakers did not use the stretch provision on Nash so his money will be off the books after this season, while Boozer is also signed to a one year deal. The Lakers likely would want picks or young players in return and they could also look at making moves with other names on the roster.
The Los Angeles Lakers are already looking towards next summer after the way this season has gone and while names like Rondo and Gasol are at the top of the list, others could come up as well. Along with Rondo and Marc Gasol, the Lakers may try and swing a Ricky Rubio or Greg Monroe deal, as Monroe will be a free agent targets for a number of teams come next summer. The Lakers know that Kobe Bryant needs more talent on the roster and this season the team may look at trades involving Steve Nash or Jeremy Lin to clear cap space heading out of this season and to possibly add prospects or draft picks to build on as Bryant comes back healthy for new coach Byron Scott.
The Lakers know that Bryant may need some extra support to get things done after Jeremy Lin took over for Steve Nash after his injury earlier this year and once they make it through this season they can make moves for the future. Rondo is the prime target for the Lakers according to Pro Basketball Talk, but the team also could look at Gordon Dragic or Michael Carter-Williams as future targets. The Sixers may end up making trades, while the Suns may lose Dragic to free agency and the Lakers are expected to be one of his top suitors.
