The NBA trade deadline is less than a month away and rebuilding teams will look to be sellers while contending teams will look to buy. The Los Angeles Lakers should be buyers before the deadline, in hopes of winning the NBA Finals once again. Let’s take a look at some players that the Lakers could potentially target.
With limited resources to use in a trade, the Lakers need to be creative or find buy-low targets that can push them over the top. With that said, here are three trade targets for the defending champions.
Hassan Whiteside
Los Angeles is in need of a big man who can protect the rim while Anthony Davis is off the floor. Marc Gasol is not the defensive force he used to be. In fact, has become a liability on the defensive side of the ball at times.
Whiteside will not need to do much other than rebound and play defense, which is what makes the fit between the two sides perfect. He is a rebounding machine, averaging 11.4 boards per game throughout his career. Whiteside has played limited minutes for the Sacramento Kings this season. If the Lakers can trade for him at the right price it would be worth it for both parties.
Sterling Brown
The Rockets have been in a slump. They have lost their last 12 games which is why they will likely be selling at the deadline. The Lakers are in desperate need of three-point shooting help and Brown is able to do just that. Los Angeles ranks 25th in the NBA in three-point percentage at a mere 34.8% from beyond the arc.
Brown would be able to provide a spark off of the bench as he is shooting the three at a 40 percent clip this season. LA should only make a push for him at the right price. They don’t have many assets, but Brown’s three-point ability would provide a nice punch for the Lakers off the bench.
Mohamed Bamba
Bamba has not lived up to the hype so far after being selected sixth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, but the Lakers could take a chance on the young big man. Bamba would not be a high-minute player with the Lakers.
When he is on the court, he would help on the defensive side of the ball. This season, in just 9.3 minutes per game, the New York native is averaging 0.8 blocks and 3.8 rebounds. The 22-yar-old could play roughly 10-15 minutes per game for the Los Angeles and provide good rebounding and defense while having long-term starter potential with the organization.
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