Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve potential compensation for a Trevor Ariza deal, as the team’s young core is off the table in trade talks.
Los Angeles Lakers rumors have been persistent for a few days. Once news broke that the Los Angeles was looking to acquire Trevor Ariza in a trade with the Phoenix Suns, Lakers rumors really picked up.
You can expect Lakers rumors and any trade rumors to really pick up after Dec. 15. That is the day that any free agent signed this past summer is eligible to be traded. That includes Ariza, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has been mentioned the most among Lakers‘ players that could be on the move.
However, KCP isn’t in the Suns’ plans. Phoenix is looking to land a playmaking guard and draft assets in a deal for Ariza. The Lakers must not have met those requirements, as the Suns have reportedly already turned down one three-team offer.
The Houston Rockets have emerged as a potential landing spot for Caldwell-Pope. If the Lakers are going to take on Ariza, they will need to move some money to make things work, and Caldwell-Pope is who is being mentioned. If the Suns do not want him, finding a third team is imperative to make things work.
While the trade talks are still in flux and there are still wrinkles to iron out, we know one thing for sure; the Suns will not be acquiring any part of the Lakers’ young core.
According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart will not be included in any trade offers for Ariza.
Lakers won’t surrender Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kyzma or Josh Hart to Suns for Trevor Ariza, source. Suns turned down a 3-team proposal, source. And 2 sources confirmed Rockets called Lakers 2 weeks ago about trading for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. No deal is imminent.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) December 12, 2018
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This should come as no surprise. The Lakers have been unwilling to part with their young core since Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka took over. Teams such as the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs asked for them in trade talks for Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, but the Lakers did not budge.
Holding onto their young core is a smart decision for Los Angeles. They should be looking to augment and add to that group, not take away and diminish it.
Ariza would help the Lakers should they acquire him. He would help fill the hole that they currently have at the backup power forward spot. However, trading the young core for him should be out of the question.
Trading someone on a one-year deal, such as Caldwell-Pope, makes sense. However, Los Angeles also shouldn’t include more than second-round picks as draft compensation.
Ariza will be a free agent after this season, so he is essentially a rental for whoever acquires him. A rental of that magnitude should not include a first-round pick.