Why Robert Sacre Could Be the Los Angeles Lakers' Unlikeliest Trade Candidate

At 7’, 270 pounds, center Robert Sacre takes up a lot of space for the Los Angeles Lakers. Especially when he’s sitting on the end of the bench.

While much of the trade talk this season involving the Lakers has focused on such players as Jordan Hill, Jeremy Lin and even Steve Nash, the stark reality is that Sacre may very well be the best and easiest candidate to move before the NBA trading deadline February 19.

The 25-year-old Sacre has been missing in action much of the season and not because of health. He has been odd-man-out in coach Byron Scott’s heavily loaded front line of big men.

The former Gonzaga center, now in his third season with the Lakers, has seen his playing time dwindle and eaten up by the likes of starter Jordan Hill, backup Tarik Black and power forwards Ed Davis, Ryan Kelly and Carlos Boozer.

In fact, Sacre has not scratched one minute of play in the team's last four games.

Sacre has not helped the Lakers bench, and his absence this past week only reinforces what head coach Byron Scott is thinking about his backup center. For the month of January, Sacre is averaging less than one point in just 11.6 minutes.

Last month, he talked with L.A. Times reporter Mike Bresnahan and expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's record. His comments were prophetic:

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We all come from winning backgrounds, whether it's from college or winning championships on a different team. We've all been in winning situations, so I think it is frustrating.

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Sacre is healthy and ready to contribute. But he's lost the trust of his coach and it doesn't make sense for the team to pay him to be a cheerleader.

 Black, on the other hand, is a younger (23), more versatile player than Sacre, who quickly gained the confidence of head coach Byron Scott upon arriving in Los Angeles after being waived by the Houston Rockets. Black scored 14 points (4-4 from the floor) in just 17 minutes in his first game with the Lakers on January 9. That's when Sacre seemed to disappear out of the lineup.

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

With Black, Ed Davis, Carlos Boozer, Ryan Kelly and starting center Hill all fighting for minutes, there is no room for Sacre and Lakers management knows that.

And there should be at least a few playoff contenders looking for that high energy, big body, loose-ball fighter that Sacre has built his reputation on.

Possible destinations for Sacre might include the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Clippers. All of these teams could use Sacre’s energy and ability to defend against other low-post opponents.

The Hawks might be willing to part with one of their three second-round draft picks to get Sacre. Despite their league-leading 32-8 record, they are currently (per ESPN.com) 25th (tied with the Clippers) in the league in total rebounding and worst in offensive rebounds with just 8.5 per game.

Likewise, the Clippers could use another big body on the front line, someone to spell leading rebounder (13.6) DeAndre Jordan, who often gets into foul trouble. L.A. pulls down just 8.8 offensive boards a game and after Blake Griffin (7.6 rpg), it really tails off. And the team has no backup center.

The Cavaliers were reportedly interested in Sacre before finally trading for Denver’s Timofey Mozgov on January 8.  Cleveland gave up two first-round picks to get the former Nuggets center—they could have gotten Sacre for much less, but Mozgov is the better talent and was high on the Cavs list after losing Anderson Varejao to a season-ending Achilles injury.

Obtaining Sacre wouldn’t cost teams much and the Lakers could secure a second-round draft pick and/or a young asset in the process. His salary is $915,000 this year with a non–guaranteed deal next year for $981,000.

In other words, a playoff team could pick him up for next to nothing, with no obligation for next season. It really is a no-brainer for some teams, and it would seem the Lakers would want to stockpile as many draft picks or young talent as possible.

With Lakers center Jordan Hill having his most productive season and Black earning Scott’s praise for his rugged defensive play and high-percentage scoring around the rim, Sacre’s future in purple and gold is looking bleak.

Hill is averaging a career-high 28 minutes per game and personal bests of 12 points, eight rebounds, 1.4 assists and one block. Sacre, on the other hand, is averaging just 14 minutes per game, down from 16.8 last year.

The acquisition of the 6’11”, 260-pound Black has all the appearances of turning into a steal. Black was undrafted out of Kansas, but showed great promise in 25 games this season with the Rockets, admirably filling in for an injured Dwight Howard and averaging four points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

When Houston decided to pursue forward Josh Smith, they had to free up roster space and it left the rookie Black out in the cold. It was a move head coach Kevin McHale hated to make (per LA Times): 

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Tarik did a great job, (McHale told the Houston Chronicle). I told him he'll be picked up in our league. I told him in preseason, I said, ‘Tarik, you have to go out and open people's eyes. You didn't get drafted.' But he came in and had [15] rebounds in a [preseason] game. Everybody around the league is saying, ‘Dang, what did we miss on Tarik Black?'

I really liked coaching him. A wonderful young man. It's a tough business, this league.

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In his first six games with the Lakers, Black averaged over eight points and six rebounds in 18 minutes,  on 67 percent shooting. He quickly won over Scott, who had been preaching a defensive toughness in the post all season without much success.

In Black (per ESPNLA.com), Scott found a player with the mental and physical toughness he's talked about all season: "I thought he could bring us energy. And that's what he did. Just came in with a ton of energy. That's how he plays. It really elevated everybody else."

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

And so it would seem the dye has been cast and Robert Sacre will be moved somewhere. Not only is Black younger with much better upside potential, he also commands a smaller salary of $507,000 and a team option of $845,000 next season.

By choosing not to play Sacre, Scott is letting the player and other teams know that the big center is available. At 12-29, the Lakers brass needs to make moves now that will impact them as they move into the offseason and next fall.

Sacre is a great clubhouse guy with a solid low-post game. He stands ready to help a playoff contender with his energy and rebounding.

His cheerleading days in L.A. appear over, but he'll get a second chance to show he belongs as a player in the NBA.