Lakers Trade Rumors: Brogdon, Dinwiddie for D'Angelo Russell Seen as 'Lateral' Moves

If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to make a move ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, they are making sure it will be for players who can help them improve from where they are right now.

Per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, players like Malcolm Brogdon, Spencer Dinwiddie and Tyus Jones don't hold much interest for the Lakers in a potential deal for D'Angelo Russell because they are seen as "lateral moves at best" by the team.

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray appears to be the primary trade target for the Lakers.

Per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, the Lakers are believed to have made the "most aggressive known bid" for Murray at this point.

Fischer noted Los Angeles "has been willing" to move its 2029 first-round draft pick and a pick swap to entice the Hawks, but the issue is Atlanta "prefer not taking back future salary" and wants a better player coming back than Russell.

Russell is making $17.3 million this season and has an $18.7 million player option for 2024-25.

One thing that could help the Lakers is there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest around the league in Murray right now. The Hawks' asking price was too high for the New York Knicks, per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.

The Athletic's James L. Edwards III reported this week the Hawks recently "initiated a trade discussion" with the Detroit Pistons about Murray, but the Pistons balked when the asking price involved either Ausar Thompson or Jaden Ivey and other stuff.

If the Hawks are intent on moving Murray before the trade deadline, the Lakers' leverage will increase the closer we get to Feb. 8. They don't have to be in a rush to make a move since Murray's four-year, $114.1 million contract extension doesn't even kick in until next season.

The Lakers' slow approach is the right one because they aren't overflowing with future assets, so they have to make sure any move they make will be enough to help LeBron James and Anthony Davis maximize their ability.

There's certainly plenty of impatience in Los Angeles right now with the team sitting at 23-23, but the front office still has 13 days to figure out what direction to take at the deadline.