Lakers Rumors: Latest Buzz on Roy Hibbert Trade, Kevin Seraphin and More

Leave it to Los Angeles to keep the NBA world fascinated with the city's teams when everyone thought things were done and dusted.

After seemingly losing DeAndre Jordan to the Mavericks in free agency, the Clippers refused to lose the third leg of their competitive stool by trying to woo the center into coming back. Lo and behold, it paid off, as the All-NBA Defender decided to return, turning the Clippers expectations for next season around:

But while Doc Rivers and the Clips were working miracles, the other Los Angeles team—saying this as recently five years ago would have been a cardinal sin—the Lakers, have quietly been making moves to return to a competitive level in the Western Conference and build for the future.

With a roster comprised of young talent and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers have filled in the cracks this offseason with trades and free-agent signings of mid-level players, but the moves don’t appear to be at an end quite yet.

Mavericks approaching Pacers about Roy Hibbert

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One of the biggest gets for the Lakers this offseason has been center Roy Hibbert, who is expected to arrive in a trade with the Indiana Pacers.

Although Hibbert has lost favor with some fans since his breakout season in 2014, when he was an All-Star and named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, he is still a highly capable center who can help plug the lane and cover some of the Lakers' defensive deficiencies.

But while the Lakers believed they had Hibbert locked up, the same stipulation that allowed Jordan to return to the Clippers—no deal can be made official until July 9—has put the trade with the Pacers in jeopardy.

As reported by Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated, executives around the league believe that the Mavericks could approach Indiana about trading for Hibbert after losing out on Jordan:

It remains to be seen if the Pacers will bite on a possible trade with Dallas—Indiana did sign Monta Ellis, who spent last season with Dallas, this offseason—but the Lakers' losing out on Hibbert could be detrimental to any future plans.

Hibbert isn't likely to turn into the All-Star he was in 2012 and 2014 again, but as a strong defensive center to pair with Julius Randle and the young guard play of D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, he fits well into the Lakers plan:

His 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game would have to go up if the Lakers were to compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but Hibbert’s size and defensive abilities are something the team cannot afford to lose.

Lakers among teams interested in Kevin Seraphin

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After going No. 7 overall in the 2014 NBA draft to the Lakers, Julius Randle’s first season didn’t go exactly as planned. With the expectations of the future of the franchise on his shoulders—Russell and Clarkson have since helped to lighten the load significantly—the power forward missed almost all of his rookie season with a broken leg.

Even with a return to full strength, the worries are going to be in the back of everyone’s minds when Randle takes the floor next season, and the Lakers could do with bringing in backup options capable of playing big minutes or even starting, should recovery take longer than expected.

Enter Kevin Seraphin.

While the Lakers have shown interest this offseason in acquiring the big man’s talents, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops reported they aren’t the only ones courting Seraphin:

Having backed up Marcin Gortat with the Wizards, Seraphin could also fit in behind Hibbert but would most naturally fit as Randle insurance.

His numbers weren’t hugely impressive last year, as he only averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds, but an increase in minutes would likely improve production and turn Seraphin into another young piece for the rebuilding Lakers.

Nick Young trade to Bulls not likely

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But while the Lakers have made headlines this offseason by bringing players in, even if they did whiff on their pursuits of some big-name free agents, there are also a number of players rumored to be on the way out.

One player involved in trade discussions is the always entertaining (if over-shooting) Nick Young.

With the team looking to offload some of the money the forward was set to make next year, not to mention the lack of touches to go around on a team with Bryant, Young and Williams, letting him go in a trade seems the best way to go.

One potential suitor that emerged was the Chicago Bulls, but according to Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation, any talks of a trade weren’t going to come to fruition:

Right now, every move the Lakers make feels like setting the table for the future with Russell, and taking Young out of the equation feels in line with that ideal.

Russell is a young guard with a game strongly reliant on volume shooting—he averaged 14.4 field-goal attempts per game with Ohio State last season—and passing and sharing the court with Young isn’t the best way to get a ton of touches.