Lakers Rumors: Buzz from Los Angeles in Aftermath of Trade Deadline
Seemingly everyone in the league was traded before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline. Everyone, that is, except for a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 13-40 Lakers elected to stand pat at the deadline with the hopes of improving in the future through better health and free agency. Whether that strategy ultimately pays dividends depends on how the offseason unfolds, but it is hard to argue with the decision.
It is actually better for the Lakers to lose the rest of this season and improve their chances at holding on to their top-five-protected draft pick than anything else, so why trade for a player who could help them win a few more games this season?
The Lakers didn’t make a move at the trade deadline, but there are still plenty of rumors about the future coming out of Los Angeles. Here are a few of them.
Sean Deveney of Sporting News passed along an update on big man Jordan Hill: "Hill could become a free agent next summer if the Lakers choose not to pick up his option, worth $9 million, but most executives around the league think that, assuming Hill is not part of a blockbuster in the next 24 hours, the team will pick up his option for next season."
Hill clearly wasn’t part of a blockbuster deal, so the indication seems to be that he will be back next season. The 27-year-old Hill may not be the reincarnation of Shaquille O’Neal or Wilt Chamberlain down low, but the Lakers could do much worse moving forward.
Hill is averaging career highs this season in points (12.3 per game) and rebounds (a team-high eight per game) and has been a steadying force when healthy on the blocks for the squad after Julius Randle was lost for the season in the opener.
With the long-term future of Carlos Boozer up in the air, the Lakers could use a veteran like Hill to mentor Randle and play alongside him next season.
For his part, Hill seemed to want to stay in purple and gold, via Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News: “I want to be here. I want to be a in a steady place I call home.”
If he continues to put up double-double types of numbers, the Lakers will likely be happy to oblige.
The Lakers have experienced some championship-level success with the Gasol name before, so it should come as no surprise that they are among the teams that will make a run at Marc Gasol this offseason, via Sam Amick of USA Today: “The Knicks, Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and others have long been expected to come after him.”
There is one major problem for Los Angeles and any other team that hopes to land the free-agent-to-be before next season: Gasol loves being part of the Memphis Grizzlies. At least that is what he indicated to Amick when he said, "The city of Memphis and the franchise means a lot to me. It's not going to be easy for me to leave a place like that."
There is plenty to like for Gasol.
The Grizzlies are a formidable 39-14 on the season and competing with the Golden State Warriors for the No. 1 seed in the daunting Western Conference. Gasol fits in perfectly alongside surrounding pieces Zach Randolph, Mike Conley Jr. and Tony Allen, and Memphis has a legitimate chance to challenge for a title this season.
Among the winning, relationships he has formed with his teammates and his apparent love of the city, Gasol seems bound to return to Memphis. That doesn’t mean the Lakers should just give up on the pursuit of the uniquely skilled big man, but they are facing unfavorable odds.
Jeremy Lin
Another player who probably won’t be in Los Angeles next season is point guard Jeremy Lin if Medina’s update (in a separate piece) was any indication: "Numerous NBA sources outside of Lin’s camp and the Lakers are skeptical either party would want a reunion."
Medina noted that Lin has struggled to thrive in Byron Scott’s offense, and he is averaging a disappointing 2.4 turnovers per game in only 25 minutes of action every night. That is not exactly the type of efficient basketball the Lakers are looking for from the point guard position, and the younger Jordan Clarkson has stolen serious minutes (and a starting role).
While there is something to be said for Lin’s postseason experience from his time in Houston and his ability to get to the rim off the dribble, he just doesn’t appear to be the long-term answer at point guard for the Lakers.
There could be a number of different options at the position this offseason (perhaps Rajon Rondo in free agency, Ty Lawson in a trade or D’Angelo Russell in the draft), and Clarkson is only 22 years old and should improve moving forward.
Lin’s days in Los Angeles could very well be numbered, and it may be better for both parties. After all, a change of scenery could be all that’s missing from the reincarnation of “Linsanity.”
Follow me on Twitter:
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
