Report: Lakers Linked to Former NBA Champion Wing Player

The Los Angeles Lakers could really use some help at this point of the regular season, and adding a former champion makes perfect sense. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne has a proposal for the Lakers front office. This player could easily fit in Rob Pelinka’s roster.

Trevor Ariza.

The Lakers may get Ariza if he receives a buy-out from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ariza has already worked with the Lakers General Manager.

“I’ll go with Trevor Ariza. He’s a veteran that you’ve heard mentioned in several acquisitions over the past couple years,” Shelburne explained on The Jump. “How many trades did we have last summer? We haven’t seen him in Oklahoma City, but his former agent works for the Lakers right now so always file that one away.”

LA Lakers to get a talented champion

Ariza was traded many times and he is dealing with a personal issue at the moment. We don’t know if the swingman will get his buyout from Oklahoma. Maybe the team will keep him at his $12.8 salary in the regular season.

In an episode of The Woj Pod, Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN suggested Ariza could be making his way to Los Angeles. Oklahoma may try to keep Ariza. He may not get his buyout after all.

“Remember a player who’s still out there, Bobby: Trevor Ariza, who is on Oklahoma City’s roster, he’s not reported this year,” Wojnarowski noted.  “(Thunder GM) Sam Presti traditionally does not do contract buyouts. He’s usually been able to find trades for guys, so maybe Ariza gets a trade somewhere and then gets bought out if the Lakers can’t trade for him, but that’s another player who I think will be in great demand among the contenders. He’s somebody who has shown up in big moments, a really experienced and versatile forward.”

Ariza was averaging 11 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 21 games in the 2019-20 NBA season. Shams Charania from The Athletic reported that LA is looking forward to snatch Ariza.

“The Lakers are monitoring Oklahoma City’s Trevor Ariza should he become available, sources say,” Charania explained.

Lakers head coach said his team is always looking at ways to improve the roster. Improving the team is a priority right now.

“We’ll always look at opportunities to improve our team, but nothing concrete right now,” the head coach said. “We’re just looking at what players are available. I’m not going to discuss any types of needs that we’re discussing internally.”