NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Eye Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II If Warriors Open to Deal

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly eyeing a pair of Golden State Warriors role players.

According to Clutch Points' Brett Siegel, the Lakers would be interested in Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II if the Warriors were to make them available.

"Los Angeles is said to be paying attention to what the Golden State Warriors have planned, especially if they give up notable secondary players like Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II, sources said," Siegel wrote. "The Lakers would have interest in both players if traded."

The Lakers already made a splash ahead of the deadline by trading Anthony Davis for Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić, but that deal left them without an elite rim protector.

Looney is far from the defensive player that Davis is, but he could at least give Los Angeles another body in the paint as it looks to make a title run. Looney is averaging 5.2 points and 6.7 boards per game this year while coming off the bench in Golden State. He would presumably play behind Jaxson Hayes, who will likely be the Lakers' starting center with Davis gone.

Payton, who had a brief stint with the Lakers during the 2017-18 season, is putting up 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 54.4 percent from the field. He's struggled from deep this season, shooting just 22.2 percent from range after posting averages better than 30 percent for most of his career.

The Lakers have two capable shooting guards in Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent, so Payton would likely have to compete with those two for a starting role. Of course, one of Knecht or Vincent could be included in a potential trade, which would give Payton a better chance of seeing the floor in Los Angeles.

The Lakers got through some early-season struggles and are now sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference at 28-19. Things will soon change, however, with Davis joining the Mavs and Dončić suiting up in purple and gold, and only time will tell if the Lakers can keep their current position in the standings.