Lakers: 3 Things We Learned Falling to Kings

Jan 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) dunks over Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Kings won 112-93. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) dunks over Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Kings won 112-93. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Bass (2) warms up before the start of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Bass (2) warms up before the start of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Brandon Bass Boosting That Trade Value

With trade season starting to kick into full gear in the NBA, rumors started surfacing early on Wednesday that the most likely player to be moved from the Lakers is veteran power forward Brandon Bass. Not unrelated, Bass then played 30 minutes against Sacramento and had one of his best games of the season. 

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Bass was the brightest spot on the Lakers in this matchup as he put up 18 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks coming off of the bench. His activity on both ends was impressive, even if he too couldn’t do anything of consequence against Cousins and Cauley-Stein.

Coupled with the rumors about Bass being on the trade block, it seems like the Lakers are putting Bass on display to showcase him and boost his trade value. It’s hard to say that he didn’t start that effort nicely, even in the loss.

It’s a warranted question to ask if this is going to continue once Larry Nance Jr. is healthy enough to come back into the lineup, but it probably should. Bass is far from untalented and could certainly have value in the right situation. Putting him in a situation in Los Angeles to where his value is only going to climb like he was on Wednesday only helps everyone involved, so it’d be shame to bury him back on the bench once Nance returns.

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