The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Dion Waiters Thursday, marking their second free-agent signing after the trade deadline. The team’s first addition came on Feb. 23 in the form of Markieff Morris.

Los Angeles was involved in plenty of trade rumors at the start of 2020, but the team didn’t make any in-season deals. The Lakers pursued a couple of players stuck on non-contenders.

Among those players was Derrick Rose, who wasn’t moved by the Detroit Pistons. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Lakers offered a package including Alex Caruso and draft compensation to the Pistons in exchange for the point guard.

Rose is having his most productive NBA season since he was an MVP candidate with the Chicago Bulls. He’s averaging 18.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 26.0 minutes per game. Rose is shooting a career-best 49.0% from the field.

The oft-injured Rose is expected to miss several weeks with a sprained ankle.

Caruso is averaging 5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.1 minutes per game. The guard is one of Los Angeles’ best defensive players.

The Lakers had been searching for another playmaker. LeBron James has been the best player in the West as Los Angeles’ starting point guard, but the team has barely outscored its opponents when the superstar is on the bench.

The Lakers pursued Marcus Morris at the deadline, but the forward was traded to the L.A. Clippers. The Clippers sent the New York Knicks a 2020 first-round draft pick and Moe Harkless in the deal.

The Anthony Davis trade in the summer sapped Lakers of almost all of their valuable assets. Los Angeles held onto Kyle Kuzma, who likely would’ve had to be included in any deadline deal for a significant player.

Barring a collapse in the season’s final month, the Lakers will be the West’s No.1 seed in the playoffs.

Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards during the game on March 9, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Getty Images/Hannah Foslien
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