Los Angeles Lakers: Cavaliers have contacted them about a potential swap
Given Cleveland’s struggles thus far in 2018, the defending Eastern Conference champions are exploring the trade market. One potential partner is the Los Angeles Lakers.
For a significant chunk of the season the Los Angeles Lakers have been the talk of the NBA in terms of the trade market. However, recent reports suggest that the trade market is heating up elsewhere, particularly in Cleveland.
With respect to the Cavaliers, it makes complete sense due to their desire to return to the NBA Finals. Despite said desire, such an ambition seems lofty the way they are currently built.
After Tuesday evening’s loss against the Spurs, Cleveland has claimed a victory in just three of their last ten games. A lot of the losses have resulted from playing awful defensively. Saturday’s contest against the Thunder is perhaps the best example provided that LeBron James and company allowed 148 points.
Drama has also transpired when Cavaliers’ big man Kevin Love is taken into account. In a recent story by Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports, rumors were floating around that Love pretended to be ill after leaving that same Thunder game early on. While those allegations have cooled down, it demonstrates that tensions are on the rise in Cleveland.
For reasons along these lines, it is easy to wonder where Tyronn Lue’s job status stands presently. There is clearly a sense of urgency in Cleveland, and granted the Lue speculation is nothing new, the discord among the Eastern Conference team is all too real.
The struggles and chaos shed light on why the Cavs have recently been involved in trade discussions. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst, the ball club has been in hot pursuit of Sacramento Kings guard George Hill. Hill would instantly inject the Cavs’ backcourt with much-needed help on “D.”
The Kings are not the only Pacific coast team Cleveland has been linked to, though. The latter squad has also been in touch with the Lakers. 247Sports’ Chris Bengel reproduced this report following initial claims from Windhorst.
On the Lakers’ end, it is well-established that the trio of Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr. are on the trading block. In view of the Cavs’ dreadful defense, it is curious if guys like Randle and Nance Jr. especially are being targeted. Both players are not afraid to mix it up down low and are more than adept on the glass as well.
Albeit those power forwards would surely bolster Cleveland’s “D,” no names in a potential swap are known right now. Discussions between Los Angeles and Cleveland are therefore in a rather juvenile stage. Thus, there is a considerable discrepancy when these rumors are placed up against the ones centered around the Kings’ Hill.
In terms of the Lakers, though, one cannot help but to think about the possibility of obtaining Love. In all likelihood, the odds of that occurring are incredibly slim. Let’s get that out of the way. Nevertheless, due to the scrutiny Love just dealt with, one cannot help but wonder whether the versatile big man’s days in Ohio are numbered.
Love would instantly give the purple and gold a borderline All-Star with championship experience. Moreover, the former UCLA Bruin would also grant the Lakers with a veteran presence who can stretch the floor and haul down rebounds. Although all of that is true, this seems to be implausible as was said.
Although the Lakers-Cavs talk is lukewarm at best, it is obvious that the Cavaliers are in a desperate state. 2018 has not treated the wine and gold kindly, which makes these whispers even more intriguing.
Windhorst understands this very much so. Included in a recent piece from SB Nation’s Drew Garrison are the former’s thoughts relative to the Lakers-Cavs gossip.
"“At this point I just think they [the Cavaliers] have to have change. They’re talking to other teams, I was told today that they’ve been talking to the Lakers, which is stunning because why would they do a deal with the Lakers who potentially could recruit LeBron, that just shows you they are going all over the league trying to figure this out,” Windhorst said."
The trade deadline is just a little over a couple weeks away from now. As a result, rumors along these lines are certainly not going to die out. It is simply part of the natural ebb and flow of this part of the NBA season.
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Whether the Lakers and Cavaliers remain in talks about a trade is unknown. Regardless of the uncertainty, it will be interesting to see what the teams have in mind if conversations persist.