Lakers VP of basketball operations Rob Pelinka has remained in regular communication with LeBron James and Anthony Davis to discuss potential trades, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, but Pelinka has done that in the past. James is prepared to play out the season with the current roster.
“I don’t really like to play fantasy basketball, so this is the group that we have going into the deadline and we’ll be ready to take on all challenges that this season has given us,” James said. “If there’s an opportunity — I’ve said this every year – if there’s an opportunity for you to get better, then you explore those options. That’s always been (my stance).”
The Lakers don’t have a lot of flexibility with three max deals on their cap.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- The Kings would still prefer to build around De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, sources told the Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson. Fox is in the first year of a five-year, $163MM max contract extension. This comes on the heels of a report that the Knicks are interested in Fox and that some people around the NBA believe Sacramento hasn’t given up on its pursuit of Ben Simmons.
- Injured guard Ricky Rubio, who just had his expiring contract moved from Cleveland to Indiana, said in a recent Spanish media interview (hat tip to Hoops Hype) that he wouldn’t mind eventually playing with the Warriors. “It would be nice to play with (Stephen) Curry and Klay Thompson,” Rubio said.
- While the Warriors might be in the market for frontcourt help, GM Bob Myers said the best solution would be to get Draymond Green and James Wiseman back in action, Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets. “We’re being told that both of those guys, Draymond and James, will be available and back to help up with some games to go,” he said. “I don’t know if it’ll be 20, 25, 15. But we think those two will help us more than anything we’re looking at on the market.”
Low key load mgmt for Dray chess not checkers Warriors are winning it this year even though Suns look HOT
I think Bob Myers trades for Willy Hernangomez soon. Cheap contract and he is a nice body down in the block and paint. It would make them the favorites in the West, if not the league. All they’re missing is that ONE big who can dominant the glass and protect the cup.
That’ll take something going back that really hurts. Willy is playing very well (23.3 PER) and is cheap and under contract for 2 more seasons (with the last not even being fully guaranteed). You’re not getting him for a 2nd rounder or anything like that.
You heard it here first. They trade for no one. The only contracts they have that the team would be interested in moving are min guys.
If someone like Belli on a one year gets injured for RoS then they may cut the hurt dude to add a buyout guy.
Not many buyout guys are better than the worse player on the roster though so unless there is an injury that is on the more major side I doubt they make a single move.
Chapman’s vacuum, I agree. Just exactly as you said. The Warriors won’t make a trade to disrupt this roster. Everything came together with the three veterans on minimum contracts. That was essential for their bench since they kept the three young draft picks and didn’t trade them for a star.
This deadline will be about nothing and then scanning the buyout Market. That’s the Warriors plan for sure. Every single guy on the roster now they love except for perhaps that little point guard Choiza guy. But even he’s good for them as a 15th guy.
As they still have their mid-level exception they can also wait to the final roster deadline when some teams cut contracts and pick someone up that way. They have also added a big man late via international route like when they added Bogut a few years ago. I don’t think they will trade but if someone slips through the shed salary window that might add.
Why do you guys want to solve a problem that the Warriors don’t have? They are already one the top teams defensively. Willie is not going to put them over the top.
The Warriors will stand pat……Why disturb the excellent chemistry that is evident now……even with some significant injuries….they are still winning.
The emergence of Kuminga and Moody just adds to their consistent bench along with the return of Klay Thompson.
Theres nobody on the roster they really want to get out of. The hard part of a trade is anybody who is good enough to upgrade over some of the back of the rotation guys is they all make to much for GSW to salary match. You cant trade a dude making the min, even with picks attached, for very many good players.
“I don’t really like to play fantasy basketball”? What were/are you playing in Miami and LA LeBron? The only place that wasn’t a “fantasy” in this dudes career was Cleveland. Clueless
Miami was a super team, but part of the reason he left is they didnt give him what he wanted on personnel decisions.
I think he pulled a lot of strings for his second Cleveland stint.
Ridiculous comment. They didn’t make many trades in Miami. Even the Lakers haven’t made many outside of AD and Westbrook.
I don’t buy that for one second from LeGM
Lakers: Heild, Graham, Satoransky and Thompson
Kings: Josh Hart, THT and Hayes
Pelicans: Russ, Bazemore, 1st (Lakers) and 1st (Kings)
Lakers get rid of Russ and instead reload with a couple really talented players. This gives them exactly what they need. Secondary ball handlers and shooters. Plus some more reliable big man minutes. Satoransky is likely cut or traded straight away.
Kings, get rid of Heilds big contract and in return get Josh Hart and THT. Two way better contracts and players that have a good fit on this team. They also get rid of Thompson and get Hayes.
Pelicans, build upon their core of Ingram Zion B and Herb Jones with Russ a former MVP. He makes them better now for a playoff push and the picks help build the future. Going from Graham to Russ you give up Hart and Hayes but get back two first round picks anyways.
Lakers line up:
Graham Monk Bron AD Thompson
Bradley Heild Ariza Melo Howard
Kings I still believe should then swap Fox for Randle.
That would have them line up something like this:
Haliburton Hart Barnes Randle Holmes
Mitchell THT Davis Bagley Len
Pelicans full strength probably look like this:
Russ Temple Ingram Zion Big V
Alvarado NAW Bazemore Jones Hernagomez
But they also have Lewis Jr and Murphy and the extra picks
Why do you hate the kings? Fox vs. Randle maybe with three first picks and swaps. And a first for THT, Hayes and Hart.
If the kings would like trading buddy for Hart why not Satoransky, Hart for Buddy?
Randle is better than Fox. It would be a steal for a straight swap