Appearing on Hoops Tonight (Twitter video link), Jovan Buha of The Athletic confirmed that the Lakers have some interest in Bulls guard Zach LaVine, but said there are a couple other Chicago players who may be higher on Los Angeles’ wish list.
“I’ve actually heard that they’re more interested in DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso,” Buha said. “AC, he’s the one that got away. Lakers fans, it still bothers them. Inside the organization, it’s a very divisive topic. And then DeMar is someone that the Lakers have courted for several years. Both of those guys are on more manageable contracts (than LaVine).
“… I think both of those guys make more sense within what the Lakers need. There’s real interest in all three guys, but from what I’ve been told, DeMar and Alex are higher on their priority list.”
Here’s more on the NBA’s two L.A. teams:
- Within a comprehensive look at potential trade candidates around the NBA, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype says that rival executives believe D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura are among the Lakers players worth monitoring as the trade deadline nears. Scotto also cites one exec who suggests keeping an eye on the possibility of an Amir Coffey trade if the Clippers want to try to reduce their tax bill at all.
- No Clippers players have had their minutes more affected by James Harden‘s arrival than Bones Hyland. He averaged 26.2 minutes per night before Harden’s debut; since then, he has logged 12.9 MPG with six DNPs. As Janis Carr of The Orange County Register details, head coach Tyronn Lue has told Hyland his opportunities will come and the young guard is determined to remain patient. “Obviously everybody would be (bothered), especially for someone who wants to play like myself,” Hyland said. “But at the end of the day, sometimes the coaches see different things and maybe it’s not my time for a reason. … My whole life I try to stay positive, so I don’t let little things throw me off or change my attitude and stuff like that.”
- Speaking today to reporters, Lue said that he isn’t considering a starting lineup change but that he’s thinking about tweaking his rotation, adding that the Clippers need Harden to be “more aggressive” (Twitter thread via Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times).
Any thoughts on the Lakers taking Poole? Could literally be had for nothing but matching salaries, maybe even acquire picks.
Matching salaries is tricky, bc it has to be a 2 for 1 at minimum.
But they need a guy that can score and create his own shot. Why did they not keep Lonnie again?
Like trying to match DeRozan AND Caruso… how?
Poole is one of the worst defenders in the league and his shot selection is laughable. Plus his contract is ugly. Other pieces make more sense.
Russell and Hachimura gets it done salary wise. Not exactly hard. Not saying it’s a good idea bit matching the salary is easy.
Yea it isn’t a good idea, there isn’t a good trade idea that also matches salaries where they win the trade.
Zero chance lmfao
Nobody is going to take Poole. He’s the most overpaid player in the league. He’s awful
Poole? He’s a worse and more expensive DLo. Perfect tank commander for Washington. They’ll never trade him because they’re tanking and no one they could get back would help their lottery odds more.
That’s an expensive cup of Coffee