Lakers Rumors: Analyzing Trade Deadline Buzz on Goran Dragic, Ty Lawson and More

The Los Angeles Lakers hold just a 13-40 record and are eyeing a top-five pick in this year's draft, but that's not stopping them from making some headlines just before Thursday's trade deadline.

Generally, teams in the Lakers' position at this time of year are looking to offload pricey players in an effort to free up cap space and roster spots while ensuring they finish in a "comfortable" position for the draft lottery. Well, that's not the case in Los Angeles.

The Lakers may be in the gutter of the Pacific Division, but they are rumored to have interest in several big-name players. ESPN's Chris Broussard tweeted the details:

All right, Goran Dragic isn't exactly news. His name has been thrown around the rumor mill for a while now, and this isn't the first report linking him to the Lakers. The Phoenix Suns are asking for a first-round pick in return for the guard, which isn't unreasonable considering his production this season—he's averaging 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the floor.

Due to the crowded backcourt in Phoenix, Dragic wants out. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Los Angeles is one of his preferred landing spots:

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After informing the Phoenix Suns that Goran Dragic won't re-sign an extension this summer, agent Bill Duffy delivered the Phoenix Suns a list of preferred trade destinations that includes the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Miami Heat, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

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Well, regardless of what Dragic wants, it doesn't appear likely the Lakers will pull the trigger on this one. Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders explained why:

Holding onto their first-round pick would make sense for the Lakers. This is a team looking to rebuild, and the draft is a very important part of that process. Since Dragic won't re-sign with the Suns—if he isn't moved before the trade deadline—Los Angeles will have a legitimate shot at signing him during the summer.

That said, what about Ty Lawson?

This is a newer development. The Denver Nuggets are a hot mess right now, and they are looking to offload assets in a hurry. According to Broussard, Lawson is one of the names on the trade block. This comes as a bit of a surprise considering he's been the team's best player this season, averaging 16.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor.

Los Angeles could use a legitimate point guard, so the interest here makes sense. However, Lawson will likely come with a lofty price tag, so should we expect the Lakers to make a big move? Well, according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, the answer is no:

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But the Lakers are "unlikely" to make a deal prior to Thursday's trade deadline, according to a league source familiar with the front office's thinking. The Lakers have and will still make calls regarding possible trades. Yet, the Lakers are also aware that any moves could compromise a few variables they deem important.

The Lakers consider it a "high" priority, according to the league source both to maintain financial flexibility for this offseason's free agency and to protect their draft picks.

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The Lakers aren't willing to trade draft picks, they don't exactly have any other assets. And if they are looking to maintain financial flexibility, taking on Lawson's four-year, $48 million contract, per Spotrac,  that's set to pay him $12.4 million next season probably isn't in the cards.

So, if Los Angeles isn't going to acquire Dragic and they aren't going to make a move for Lawson, is there anyone the team will pursue? According to Sam Amick of USA Today, there's always Phoenix's Miles Plumlee:

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As such, we have Suns' Miles Plumlee, who has drawn interest from Knicks & Lakers. Reluctance to take on $ for next year, but only $2.1 mil

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 17, 2015"

Sure, Plumlee isn't the biggest name rumored to be available; however, he comes at a reasonable price, and the third-year player out of Duke has shown some promise. He lost the starting gig in Phoenix this season, but he's been playing well down low and is shooting 54.9 percent from the floor. Plumlee's ceiling may not be astronomical, but he could be a nice rotational piece down the road.

We'll soon see what Thursday truly holds for the Lakers, but the way things look just prior to the trade buzzer, we shouldn't be expecting the team to make any blockbuster moves.