NBA Rumors: Harkless May Return To LA But Not To Clippers

KEY POINTS

Lakers interested in Harkless
Knicks need to buy out Harkless first
Harkless stint may be shorter-term

With no luck landing a playmaker, the Los Angeles Lakers may opt to add more scoring punch instead. One name who could be bought out is Maurice Harkless. Currently with the New York Knicks following the Marcus Morris trade, the 26-year-old could request a buyout and make a return to Hollywood.

Apparently, the Lakers are still looking for NBA players they could add to the mix. Previously, the names of Darren Collison and J.R. Smith were linked. Collison opted to stay retired, saying it was not the right time for him to make an NBA return. The case of Smith is a mystery. He underwent a workout but nothing went down.

Reggie Jackson was a sensible target but the Clippers beat the Lakers to him. With a thinning line of prospects, Harkless is reportedly a name that the purple and gold are interested in. Sam Amick of The Athletic made the revelation when he appeared on ESPN LA 710s "The Sedano Show" recently. But for the 6-foot-7 guard to join the Lakers, a buyout needs to take place. There are also risks to consider if a deal is struck.

The Knicks have not indicated any plans of buying out the 15th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. However, it was mentioned in a previous post that the Knicks would be open to buying him out if he asked for one. In the same report, critics speculated that Harkless could end up with a contender. The Lakers seem to be one of those plausible landing spots.

Assuming that Harkless does somehow end up with the Lakers, Los Angeles needs to cut somebody to make room. DeMarcus Cousins looms as a sensible choice but it appears head coach Frank Vogel is expecting Boogie to return to the roster. Also, the Lakers need to realize that Harkless could be a short-term deal. He is in the final year of his $11 million contract and most are expecting him to command a bigger salary in the summer.

There is no assurance that the Lakers could lock him up, assuming he fits into their system. If ever he is taken in, it would be for his defense. He can guard players playing the 1 to 4 positions and contribute (when needed) on offense. Harkless is a decent three-point shooter, converting 40.4 percent of his shots this season.