Lakers: 5 Best Trade Assets Ahead of Deadline

January 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) moves to the basket against Golden State Warriors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) moves to the basket against Golden State Warriors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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December 17, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Louis Williams (23) moves the ball against Houston Rockets guard Corey Brewer (33) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 17, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Louis Williams (23) moves the ball against Houston Rockets guard Corey Brewer (33) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

2. Lou Williams

While Hibbert is one of the most likely pieces to be moved at the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline, Lou Williams is the most likely from my perspective. From the moment that the Lakers signed him this offseason, he’s seemed like a strange piece on this Lakers team as he’s better suited as a highly capable sixth man on a good team rather than a featured piece on a rebuilding roster.

Williams has also been playing exceptionally well as of late, including his career-high scoring effort against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 8. There’s no questioning that Williams is still a high quality NBA player that has real value to a franchise and he’s only making that more clear. However, it would make more sense for the Lakers to try and move him to unclutter their backcourt rotation and to pick up assets in the process.

For the right team or contender, it’s at least foreseeable that the Lakers could potentially pick up a first-round pick in exchange for Williams. However, it’s more likely that Williams would be used as part of a package that would sweeten the pot with a trade partner so that they would throw in a pick. Even still, his value on the market to a contender in need of a scoring sixth man makes him highly valuable.

Next: No. 1 Randle and Russell