Lakers Trade Rumors: Lou Williams Only Available In Right Deal
The Lakers aren’t shopping Lou Williams on the trade market, but he could be dealt in the right trade
The Los Angeles Lakers are in an interesting position as there is less than a month remaining until the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline. While there’s no sense in trying to make a massive trade with the goal being a better chance of winning games this season, they might be a team looking to make a move to try and clear up their rotation and potentially get even more contracts off of the books.
One of the players who would fall into that latter category if he were to be moved is veteran guard and reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams. Though Williams has performed well for the Lakers for much of the year, he’s taking away minutes from the Lakers’ young backcourt players and is a veteran piece that doesn’t particularly fit in Los Angeles.
Subsequently, there has been plenty of speculation about whether or not the Lakers would try and deal Williams before the trade deadline this season to not only create space in the rotation, but to also get his three-year, $21 million contract that’s only in it’s first year off the books. However, that’s reportedly not the first thing on the Lakers’ agenda.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers aren’t shopping Lou in the same manner that they are veteran center Roy Hibbert. However, they would be willing to move Williams if he was necessary to get the right trade done:
Let me be clear -- if a great deal came their way and Lou had to be in it, they would listen, but not shopping him. https://t.co/vIyUHKcJeP
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) January 18, 2016
It’s interesting to speculate about what the right deal would possibly be. You’d have to assume that, given the uncertainty of the Lakers’ top-three protected first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, that they’d be wiling to include Williams in a deal if it brought back a pick in said hypothetical trade or if it brought back a quality asset.
Next: Trade Rumors: Lakers Looking to Move Hibbert to Contender
As for now, though, it doesn’t look like moving Lou is at the top of the Lakers’ list of priorities leading up to the deadline. Still, he’s a name to keep an eye on as a potential moving piece out of Los Angeles.