Lakers Trade Rumors: Buzz on Ty Lawson, Nick Young and More

The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to a multitude of high-profile targets during the offseason. As noted by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, the list includes DeMarcus Cousins, LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol, but they weren't able to land any of those marquee names.

Instead, the Lakers were forced to make some smaller acquisitions, including Roy Hibbert and Lou Williams, in an attempt to upgrade the roster.

Of course, drafting D'Angelo Russell and getting Kobe Bryant back from injury should help as well.

With that said, it doesn't sound like they are done wheeling and dealing quite yet. So let's check out some of the latest rumors involving the Lake Show.

Ty Lawson

Lawson's status is in question after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence for the second time this year earlier in the week. The 27-year-old guard has long been a reliable option at the point, but the off-court issues are starting to become a headache for the Denver Nuggets.

Chris Mannix of SI.com reports the arrival of Emmanuel Mudiay, the seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft, has made the veteran more expendable in Denver.

Even with the red flags, Mannix suggests there's still moderate interest in Lawson around the league:

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Despite a second DUI arrest in the last six months, embattled Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson is generating interest on the trade market, NBA sources told SI.com. Houston, Detroit and the L.A. Lakers are among the teams that have expressed interest in Lawson recently, and there remains a strong possibility the Nuggets could unload Lawson before training camp.

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Being connected to the Lakers raises some questions. They already have a deep backcourt with Russell, Bryant and Jordan Clarkson, which doesn't leave a lot of room for Lawson—unless L.A. is trying to prepare for Bryant's body holding him back again.

One reason it does make sense is the potential value. Lawson averaged 15.2 points and 9.6 assists last season but should come at a reduced cost because of the off-court problems.

If the Lakers are confident he'll stay out of trouble moving forward, it could be a major steal.

Nick Young

Young is a player without a defined role in Los Angeles due to the increased depth on the perimeter. If the Lakers shift to a three-guard look, making Bryant the pseudo-small forward, Young's minutes would likely become highly erratic next season.

That's why it didn't come as much surprise when his name popped up in trade talk. As it turns out, the Lakers did shop him around the league but weren't able to find a deal worth pursuing, according to Bill Oram of the Orange County Register:

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak also gave Young a vote of confidence recently. "I do see him being a core player this year," he said, per Medina.

He also said the swingman would have to prove he fits the system, though.

Ultimately, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Young talks heat up again during training camp when teams may search for an additional scoring option due to injuries. Clearly, the Lakers don't want to simply give him away, but he's not a great fit for the current roster.

Brendan Haywood

Haywood emerged as a popular target leading up to the opening of free agency. Not because of his play on the court—he averaged just 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season—but rather the financial flexibility he could provide.

His contract for the 2015-16 season, which carries a price tag of slightly more than $10.5 million, is non-guaranteed if he's waived by Aug. 1.

So any team that acquires him would likely let him go immediately for the additional cap space.

It came as a surprise that the Cavs weren't able to find a suitor a couple of weeks ago when teams were trying to shed salary at a rapid rate to create space for the top free agents. Sam Amico of Fox Sports reports there are still some interested teams:

For the Lakers, some additional flexibility is always welcome given the fact that they are paying Bryant $25 million this season.

But since they have a lot of young talent under more manageable contracts, it's not a necessity unless they are lining up other moves over the next couple of weeks.

Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.