The Los Angeles Lakers have been inconsistent with their play in the middle of this season, leaving them to flounder in the middle of the Western Conference standings. Rumors are swirling across the internet and social media the LA Lakers are considering trading for a player that could boost their frontcourt depth.
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Jonas Valanciunas is the potential trade candidate that could reinforce the LA Lakers’ frontcourt rotation after back center Jaxson Hayes got injured.
“If I am setting the Vegas odds for whom the Lakers are most likely to trade for, I think Jonas Valanciunas has the most buzz around going back last summer when he was in LeBron’s free agency list as a guy he would be willing to take a pay cut for,” the Los Angeles Lakers’ beat reporter said.
Buha noted that Valanciunas would not be eligible to be traded until December 15 due to him being picked by the Washington Wizards through free agency in the recent NBA offseason. However, the beat writer also said considering the LA Lakers’ secretive nature to watch out for their surprise moves ahead of the trade deadline.
“The Lakers operate in the shadows. Rob Pelinka knows what he is doing in terms of protecting information, intel, and leaks. I think the most likely scenario outside of maybe trading for Valanciunas would be the Lakers trading for a player no one sees coming,” he added.
Despite the Washington Wizards’ disappointing 3-19 record in the season thus far, Valanciunas has been a solid starting center for the franchise. He is averaging 12.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
As for the LA Lakers, they have been keeping Anthony Davis active on the court, playing heavy minutes as the team’s center. He leads the team in minutes per game, averaging 35.3 minutes. He also averages a team-high 27.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.
Beat reporter links the LA Lakers in potential Jimmy Butler trade
Los Angeles Lakers beat reporter Jovan Buha stated that the team may have explored the possibility of bringing Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler to LA following recent rumors about his trade.
“I’d assume that the Lakers kicked the tires on that … And at least gauged what the potential cost would be for Jimmy Butler. Probably would be a first round pick or two,” Buha said.
The LA Lakers have two first-round draft picks—for 2027 and 2029—that they can trade for Butler. Other teams interested in acquiring him are the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors.
Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat played against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals, with the Purple and Gold winning the series and the championship after six games.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
