Proposed Trade Opens up 2 Lakers Roster Spots, Adds All-NBA Defender

The Los Angeles Lakers have a 25-27 record at this point of the regular season. It’s more than obvious that the team has to make a decision and make a few moves. The Lakers can make a trade move and free up a few roster spots. That would be great!

Of course, the team may not pull out a blockbuster trade at this point. Russell Westbrook is a tradable asset, but his deal is huge, and the Lakers won’t move on from him this season. In other words, he is safe for now.

So, who is next on the trade block?

Lakers front office to free a few roster spots

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said that the Lakers could unload Kent Bazemore. The same goes to DeAndre Jordan. The veteran struggled to make an impact. Fans wanted him out for obvious reasons. They can’t get rid of these two. The front office has to add Talen Horton-Tucker to the mix. Rob Pelinka didn’t want to give up on THT because he is a valuable player. However, his inconsistency make him a good candidate for the potential trade.

Jordan, Bazemore, and THT would go to the Portland Trail Blazers to get Robert Covington. LA will have open roster spots and a defender. His stats aren’t too wild, but he is a nice defender.

THT earned a contract this offseason but he struggles too. The young Laker is only averaging 9.7 points per game. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report says that NBA teams aren’t really interested in getting THT. They wanted him last season, but we can’t say the same at this point.

Horton-Tucker is a good player but he may not be the best fit for the current team.

“Now that the Lakers are looking to improve their roster ahead of the trade deadline, Horton-Tucker is viewed by other teams as a marginal asset,” Pincus wrote. “He’s still a developing prospect, but he’s about $7.7 million more expensive this season than his contemporaries. But the bigger issue for the Lakers, above his salary, is the 21-year-old guard’s player option before the 2023-24 season.”