Report: Lakers Explored Trade for Bucks Guard

The Los Angeles Lakers planned to trade for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder, and they have also thought of getting Milwaukee Bucks point guard Eric Bledsoe.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated was among the first to report the team’s interest in Bledsoe. The Schroder trade shut down the Lakers’ plans to get Bledsoe.

The Lakers had explored a deal for Milwaukee’s Eric Bledsoe, league sources told @SInow. A Schroder trade would remove that from consideration. If completed, Lakers would be armed with a young, versatile guard coming off his most complete NBA season.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) November 15, 2020

Milwaukee has been trying to get rid of Bledsoe in order to create more cap room. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported on these efforts. Bledsoe spent 29 minutes on the floor in each game this past season. He was averaging 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.

Sources: The Bucks pursued a trade with the Thunder for Dennis Schroder and were deep in trade negotiations last week. Ultimately, the Lakers landed Schroder. Now the Bucks must move on to other targets. Eric Bledsoe remains the player Milwaukee is dangling most in trade talks.

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 15, 2020

The point guard inked a four-year extension with Milwaukee in March. This deal will give him an average salary of 17.5 million until he hits free agency in 2023. Bledsoe is a good option for the Lakers, but the team made a different decision.

Lakers to trade for Bucks guard and other players

Schroder may enter the open market next season. However, the Lakers will probably offer him a long-term agreement in order to keep him on the roster. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on this possibility.

Los Angeles is trying different options right now because of Rajon Rondo’s potential move. The veteran is expected to join another team next season.

“The Lakers are making the trade for Oklahoma City’s Dennis Schroder under the strong belief that they will be losing Rajon Rondo in free agency, league sources say,” Stein tweeted. “After his role in helping the Lakers win a championship with a particularly strong playoff run, Rondo is expected to command free-agent interest that exceeds the Lakers’ budget constraints. Trading for Schroder is an adroit pre-emptive move.”

After his role in helping the Lakers win a championship with a particularly strong playoff run, Rondo is expected to command free-agent interest that exceeds the Lakers' budget constraints. Trading for Schroder is an adroit pre-emptive move

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 15, 2020

Rajon Rondo favored to re-join Lakers according to @BovadaOfficial’s odds.

Odds:

Lakers -150
Clippers +550
76ers +650
Celtics +650
Bucks +1000 pic.twitter.com/KULFiKBqcP

— ??Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, M.A. (@ScoopB) November 14, 2020

Rondo was averaging 24.7 minutes per game in the postseason. He broke his thumb right after the Lakers entered the bubble. The veteran was averaging 8.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in the playoffs. Los Angeles may lose a valuable player, mostly because Rondo is an incredible leader. He can make plays with the second unit, and this was of great help for the Lakers in the postseason.

Lakers will gain some valuable flexibility when it comes to their $9.3M midlevel exception:

Out
Green $15,365,853
Pick 28- $1.964,780

In
Schroder- $15,500,000

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 15, 2020

The Lakers won’t stop here. They have been linked to Danilo Gallinari and Serge Ibaka.