Report: Lakers Interested in Landing Rockets Defensive Stopper

The Los Angeles Lakers have to make a few big decisions next month. The front office is looking for ways to boost the roster and prepare the team for a deep postseason. Guess what… LA Lakers may be landing a Houston Rockets defense stopper.

PJ Tucker, everyone!

According to recent reports, the Lakers are interested in getting the Rockets forward.

Houston is not really worried about the 11-17 record. Their front office is more focused on getting a clear picture of the young guys on the roster. Tucker is 35 and is in the last year of his deal with the team. Will he stay on the Rockets roster for a while? He is definitelt a valuable piece for NBA contenders.

Lakers may be landing Rockets defense stopper

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Lakers are among the NBA teams keeping track of the veteran. He believes that LA has been pretty “active” in trade discussions.

“The Lakers have been active. I know they’ve made calls about some wing players to see if there is some shooting available out there. Another player they’re interested in: P.J. Tucker, from the Houston Rockets. There’s a lot of interest among contenders in Tucker, who’s in the last year of his deal. The Miami Heat, who the Lakers play tonight, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, several others. One thing I’m told is that Houston wants back not picks, but a player that they can plug back into their lineup.”

This leads us all the way to Talen Horton-Tucker and Kyle Kuzma. The Lakers will have to sacrifice some of their young players to get Tucker. Kuzma is doing an excellent job on both ends and Horton-Tucker has great potential.

Tucker is averaging 4.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He is shooting 32.9% from three. The NBA trade deadline is March 25, and the Rockets may soon seal the deal.

Like all rookie extensions, Kyle Kuzma will have a poison pill restriction.

For trade purposes, the current contract of $3.6M will count as outgoing salary.

For incoming salary of the acquiring team, the average of the last year of his contract and extension is used- $10.9M.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 20, 2020

Kuzma has been part of pretty much every trade rumor so far. However, his trade situation is pretty complicated. LA signed him to a contract extension this offseason. His contract has a “poison pill” restriction.