Lakers Rumors: Analyzing Goran Dragic Trade Chatter and More at Deadline
Thursday's NBA trade deadline may pass with a whimper or a bang for the Los Angeles Lakers—don't put too much stock into it either way.
The truth is, general manager Mitch Kupchak and the organization are in this rebuild for the long haul, a refreshing approach as opposed to the instant-gratification ways of the past—which in part helped to get them to this point.
If the Lakers make a move, great. It won't be ridiculous thanks to a lack of tradable assets, but a smart complementary piece to combine with free-agent additions in each of the next two offseasons.
If not, no big deal.
Of course, the Lakers are taking the deadline seriously, hence the organization's name popping up in so many places on the mill with so little time left.
Miles Plumlee on Lakers' Radar
One of the key areas the Lakers would prefer to reinforce rests underneath the basket, which would help to explain why the team has an apparent interest in 26-year-old forward Miles Plumlee.
According to USA Today's Sam Amick, the Lakers are willing to look past the Phoenix Suns star's contract in order to swing a deal:
Plumlee averages just 18.6 minutes per game and a 4.3/5.1/1.0 slash line, all down from last season when he was a bigger contributor in the rotation.
The Lakers figure to have an interest in the Duke product because he is a cheaper alternative to Jordan Hill, whose time with the team figures to be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
With Plumlee on board, the Lakers could continue the youthful makeover and at the very least have a reliable rotational piece to contribute while growing with Julius Randle.
Lakers on Goran Dragic's Radar
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the revelation concerning Plumlee is that he might just be a part of any package deal when the Suns trade point guard Goran Dragic.
"When," because sources told ESPN's Marc Stein that he "doesn't plan to re-sign this summer." In other words, the Suns will want to get something out of his departure as opposed to letting him walk for free.
This is actually great news for the Lakers, as the rest of the league will now lowball the Suns. Even better, according to Stein, Dragic and Plumlee seem linked:
To top it all off, Dragic himself seems to have his eyes set on Los Angeles, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski:
Apologies if this raises the hopes too much—the Lakers still do not appear to have enough to swing a deal.
That said, it seems a given that Dragic will look to sign with the Lakers this offseason so long as he does not land with a team he prefers to re-sign with via trade.
More than anything, this just goes to show that the Lakers are still an attractive destination that superstar players are willing to wait on in order to help with the rebuild.
Ty Lawson, the Backup Plan?
The Lakers are not just all-in on Dragic, though.
In a move that surprises absolutely nobody, the reeling Denver Nuggets are ready to admit that star point guard Ty Lawson is very much available for the right price, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard, who notes that the preferred route is to strike a deal with the Indiana Pacers for George Hill:
"Despite Lawson's production, he and Shaw have had trouble getting on the same page, and sources say Shaw would prefer to trade him for Hill because Hill can play at both a fast and slow tempo and is a strong defender. While an assistant coach in Indiana from 2011 to '13, Shaw mentored Hill and grew close to him.
"
Of course, this won't stop the Lakers from showing interest and perhaps testing the waters, per Broussard:
As they should.
Lawson is just 27 years old and smack in the middle of his prime, averaging 16.9/10.1/3.2 with a 19.54 player efficiency rating, per ESPN.com.
This is not a scenario in which the Lakers would fret over contract numbers, either, as many will be quick to point out that he is a $12.4 million cap hit in 2015 and a $13.2 million hit in 2016, per Spotrac.
Los Angeles is unwilling to take on a huge amount of cap in order to land a player such as Lawson, not avoid him.
Lawson seems a dream for the Lakers, but crazier things are likely to happen even at this year's deadline.
Regardless, it is clear the team wants to put the short-lived Jeremy Lin era behind it and obtain a new field general to facilitate the offense.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
