The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be looking at potential trades to improve their 3-11 standing.
In an article by Sports World Report, the Lakers are struggling in fifth place in the Pacific Division and will most likely bring in more talent to improve their injury-riddled roster. There is a possibility that the Lakers might trade of Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer or Wesley Johnson and bring in Rajon Rondo, Marc Gasol, Roy Hibbert, JR Smith or Greg Monroe to help superstar Kobe Bryant.
Lacking Steve Nash has been devastating for the team but they are not completely left without options. In a report by LA Times, the Lakers were given a disabled-player exception valued at $4.85 million on November 25, 2014 for point guard Steve Nash who has a back injury and will be out of the entire 2014-2015 NBA season. The Lakers can make use of the extra cash to bring in one good player from the free agent list or avail of a waiver claim. It means that the Lakers can avail of any player worth $4.85 million at most. The Lakers may also opt to trade for a player worth $4.95 million.
For the injured rookie Julius Randle, the Lakers gained another $1.5 million exception, based on the same Sports World Report.
Marc Gasol and Greg Monroe will enter the free agent market in the summer of 2015 and will most likely be picked up by the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics or Lakers. Monroe might be the more viable option since the Celtics and Knicks are said to be intent on acquiring Gasol. Rondo might also go to the Lakers after completely recovering from his ACL surgery.
Another option for the Lakers is to hope that Kevin Love leaves the similarly struggling Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015 and become a free agent. However, the Cavs might give Love a good offer to remain with the team.
In the meantime, ESPN reported that Los Angeles is finalizing a deal with forward Earl Clark, which will run for one year. Clark started in 36 games with the Lakers during the 2012-2013 NBA season. He also played in the NBA Development League, averaging 29 points in four games. Clark will fill in for the huge void left by injured Lakers, namely Nash, Randle, Xavier Henry and Ryan Kelly.
In the same ESPN report, Byron Scott is reportedly planning to apply for a hardship exception from the NBA to be allowed a 16th player in their roster, only until Kelly returns to action.