NBA Rumors: Lakers Open To Trading Key Players To Land Raptors Guard

KEY POINTS

The Lakers have their eye on Gary Trent Jr., according to reports, but may lack the assets to pull off a deal with the Raptors
The Raptors may want more than DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard in a package for Trent
Trent may not deliver the same numbers if he moves from Toronto to Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers are believed to be looking for ways to improve their squad, and adding a guard who can score is one of them. One name being linked to the embattled franchise is Gary Trent Jr. of the Toronto Raptors.

The numbers of the 23-year-old guard this NBA season speak for themselves. To pry Trent away from Toronto, the Lakers are open to trading key players to land the Raptors star, according to a report from Essentially Sports.

Journalist Jake Fischer of the Bleacher Report recently said on "The NBA Chats" podcast that the Lakers are trying to offload some key players such as DeAndre Jordan, Dwight Howard and Kent Bazemore. The team is reportedly also prepared to offer a package that includes Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and a first-round pick, Fischer said.

One department the Raptors sorely need help in is the middle. For the Lakers, the players they can offer to solve this issue are veteran big men Howard and Jordan.

While both Howard and Jordan are tested, the reality is that both are nearing the twilight of their NBA careers. Howard remains effective at this point, but Jordan has not exactly been eye-catching in terms of performance for Los Angeles this season. Hence, the two could be nothing more than sweeteners in a potential deal.

“Listen, the Lakers are obviously not a great spot right now. And they’re looking. They’re trying. From DeAndre Jordan to Dwight Howard, to the Kent Bazemores of the world, to trying to see what this Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and first-round pick package can get,” Fischer said.

He continued, “You can move Kent Bazemore, but how much are you really getting back? You can move DeAndre Jordan, but what are you really getting back? Like, could they move DeAndre or Dwight to Charlotte, who needs another big man, or Toronto, who needs another big man?”

It is not clear if a multi-player trade would be acceptable for Toronto or if the Lakers would be willing to part with several players considering they have been struggling with having enough healthy players for games.

There are a lot of loose ends if the Lakers are bent on acquiring the 6-foot-5 guard from Ohio. But would he be good enough to help the purple and gold address their struggles?

Even though Trent is averaging 18.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2 assists in 42 games this season, there is no guarantee that those numbers can be maintained.

In addition, he is likely to fight for playing time on a team that is loaded with star players. Aside from LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, Austin Reaves and Wayne Ellington have been getting their minutes.

With the NBA trade deadline set for Thursday, anything can happen. But if the Lakers want to sign Trent, they will need to come up with an enticing offer for the Raptors to agree.