Lakers Rumors: Trade Buzz Surrounding Nick Young, Brandon Ingram and More
So, the Los Angeles Lakers have been busy.
On Tuesday, team governor Jeanie Buss announced that Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson was taking over as president of basketball operations. General manager Mitch Kupchak was fired after 17 years on the job. Jim Buss, Jeanie's brother, was also canned as executive vice president of basketball operations.
Longtime NBA agent Rob Pelinka—who represented Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Eric Gordon and others—was brought on as the new general manager hours later, as first reported by The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski:
With Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline approaching, Johnson and Pelinka will have no warm-up time before stepping into the treacherous trade market.
It didn't take long before Magic's phone started blowing up once he got the job, per Silver Screen & Roll's Harrison Faigen:
Johnson added that Los Angeles' "young talent" is untouchable, despite interest from other teams, via ESPN.com's Baxter Holmes:
So, what's next for the Lakers as the clock ticks away? Let's discuss two players—one veteran and one youngster—below.
Lou Williams probably already had his bags packed.
Based on reports from around the league, the sweet-shooting guard was all but certain to be dealt for a first-round pick before Thursday, even with the changing front office.
ESPN's Marc Stein and HoopsHype's Alex Kennedy said as much on Tuesday:
Johnson teased the rumors surrounding Williams hours after Jeanie Buss' announcement, too. From LakersNation.com's Serena Winters:
Then, it happened. Williams, the Lakers' clear-cut scoring leader with 18.6 points a game, was dealt to the Houston Rockets for Corey Brewer and a 2017 first-round pick, according to Wojnarowski:
That left the Lakers with few pieces worth dealing outside of fellow shooting guard Nick Young.
Mark Medina of the Orange County Register reported over the weekend that "trade speculation has resumed" on Swaggy P, who was the subject of incessant buzz last season.
"It's better when you know you're wanted," Young told Medina. "I'll be all right. We'll see what happens. I've been hearing this forever. It's either stay home or hopefully go to somebody that's making a push to the playoffs."
One team to watch is the Washington Wizards, who, along with the Utah Jazz, pursued Williams "heavily," per Wojnarowski and Shams Charania. The Wiz could still use some off-the-bench scoring, and Young's in the midst of his best shooting season ever.
ESPN.com's Arash Markazi made it seem that despite Young's bounce-back campaign, L.A.'s asking price is dirt cheap:
"The Lakers' goal going into the trade deadline was to get a first round pick for Lou Williams and anything for Nick Young.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 22, 2017"
The Lakers are looking to revamp things a bit and build from its core out. Young, at 31, doesn't figure to be a part of that future.
Even if it's just a second-round pick, expect Swaggy to be wearing a different uniform in his next game.
Brandon Ingram
Johnson's assertion that the team's "young talent" is untouchable meshes with Woj's Sunday night report that rookie forward Brandon Ingram was the deciding factor in a potential deal with the Sacramento Kings for star center DeMarcus Cousins, who was acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans:
The lanky 19-year-old out of Duke is averaging 8.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.7 minutes a night. Head coach Luke Walton has started Ingram in each of the 19-39 Lakers' past five games.
Ingram has certainly had his moments, but his rookie campaign has been relatively quiet for a No. 2 pick. He's been held under six points in 21 different games while exceeding 15 points just four times.
Based on a Tuesday report from Sports Illustrated's Jake Fischer, the Lakers have refrained from offering Ingram in packages for stars Paul George or Jimmy Butler.
Fischer also echoed Woj's report that the Lakers treasured Ingram too much to use him in a play for Boogie.
As a first-time general manager, Pelinka is a bit of a wild card. But based on Magic's early comments, it seems likely that L.A. will continue to hold Ingram close to its chest.
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