Lakers Trade Rumors: Hottest Reports Surrounding Los Angeles

The 2022-23 Los Angeles Lakers officially have the NBA's all-time leading scorer, as LeBron James broke (former Laker) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's historic mark on Tuesday night.

What else these Lakers have will be determined between now and Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Can L.A. trade its way into a roster capable of making significant noise during the postseason? Or are the 13th-seeded Lakers too flawed to justify making the kind of long-term sacrifice needed to make a major upgrade?

We'll have those answers soon enough, but for now, let's sort out the latest trade rumblings in Laker Land.

Lakers Among the Many Teams Interested in OG Anunoby

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 27: O.G. Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dribbling the ball drives towards the basket against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 27, 2023 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

O.G. Anunoby might be the league's best perimeter defender, and his offensive game shows year-over-year growth. His three-ball fluctuates between above-average and very good, and he packs enough punch as a shot-creator to lead an offense in spurts.

If you think he sounds like the perfect addition to LA's wing collection, you aren't wrong. The problem is, he'd be the perfect fit almost anywhere—and this trade market knows it.

The Lakers have "been linked" to Anunoby recently, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, but so have seven other teams. Many of those clubs also have a superior collection of trade chips than L.A. can offer.

The Lakers can and should make an aggressive offer, anyway. The 25-year-old is the kind of trade target worth giving up those two future firsts (2027 and 2029) to get, since he can be an impact addition now and a cornerstone talent going forward. Still, consider him a long shot at best given the number of teams pursuing him and the fact it isn't even clear if the Toronto Raptors will give him up.

Fred VanVleet on LA's Radar

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TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 7: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 7, 2022 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images)

While there are a number of interesting teams to track over the next 24 hours, the Raptors rise above the rest. Should they reach for the reset button, they could flood this market with some high-end plug-and-play veterans.

Fred VanVleet, who can (and should) duck out of his current deal after this season, is one of those players. He's been an All-Star and a champion, he operates as a true floor general at both ends, and he can thrive on or off the ball.

He's the kind of point guard who could fit with James and Anthony Davis, so it's no surprise the Lakers have "registered interest" in him, per Fischer. As with Anunoby, though, the field of suitors isn't small, as Fischer also included the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves in that group.

While VanVleet shouldn't cost quite as much as Anunoby, the bidding war could push past the Lakers' budget, anyway. The two future firsts sound enticing, but if they're attached to Russell Westbrook, they lose a considerable amount of luster.

Lakers, Jazz Have Discussed Russell Westbrook Trade

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Mike Conley #11 of the Utah Jazz and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk after the game at Crypto.com Arena on January 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

If the Lakers trade away both future firsts at the deadline, you'd have to assume they'll be attached to Westbrook. It'd be strange to make such an aggressive all-in move while also retaining a high-priced player who's such a poor fit for this roster.

The question, then, is whether to package Westbrook and the picks in pursuit of a star or to use the trade to plug multiple holes in the rotation. Should LA opt for the latter, the Utah Jazz could help make that happen.

The Lakers and Jazz have discussed a deal involving Westbrook (who would "likely" be bought out) and the two firsts for "a combination of rotation players including [Mike] Conley and [Malik] Beasley," per ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

This feels doable value-wise. Utah might not find two first-round picks if it deals Conley and Beasley separately, so this could be its best option for adding assets.

Still, is this enough for the Lakers to cough up their top two trade chips? That's debatable. Conley's organizational skills would help at both ends, and both he and Beasley would help scratch a season-long itch for more shooting. Then again, Conley is a 35-year-old former star and Beasley is a 26-year-old non-star, so you could understand if L.A. wouldn't consider this a needle-moving return.