Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors could leave the team short-handed on Thursday against the Boston Celtics.
Los Angeles Lakers rumors will continue flying around right up until the NBA Trade Deadline on Thursday afternoon. The first of those Lakers rumors to come to fruition was a trade with the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers and Pistons came to an agreement following Tuesday night’s embarrassing loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers will be acquiring shooting guard/small forward, Reggie Bullock, from the Pistons in exchange for Svi Mykhailiuk and a 2021 second round pick.
Lakers fans were a little disappointed to see Svi go in a trade so soon. He quickly became a fan favorite after being selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. His performance at the Las Vegas Summer League was strong, but it did not translate to the regular season.
As a result, the organization saw a chance to upgrade the roster and jumped at it. Bullock will add a much-needed shooter and floor spacer to the team’s rotation. He has the size to be a solid defender as well and should quickly become a favorite of LeBron James.
However, there is some question to just how soon we will see him in the purple and gold for the first time.
Los Angeles is set to take on the Boston Celtics on Thursday night as they continue their six-game road trip. Bullock, it sounds like, will be hard-pressed to be ready to play in that game.
According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, the timing of the trade for Bullock may not work out in the team’s favor. She is told that it is likelier that he makes his Lakers’ debut on Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Sounds like the timing is going to be too tight for Reggie Bullock to be available to play tomorrow in Boston. I’m good he’ll most likely make his Lakers debut in Philadelphia.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) February 6, 2019
There will be a lot of new faces in that game, as the 76ers made a blockbuster deal of their own with the Los Angeles Clippers, center around Tobias Harris.
For the Lakers, this news about Bullock could be very important. If the team pulls off a big trade, such as miraculously acquiring Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, they will be extremely short-handed on the bench.
Having Bullock would have helped offset some of those presumed losses from the roster. For example, if the Lakers’ reported offer would be accepted by the Pelicans, they would be left with only LeBron James, JaVale McGee, Tyson Chandler, Michael Beasley, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Moritz Wagner, Johnathan Williams and Alex Caruso to take on the Celtics.
If people thought Tuesday’s game was ugly, they could be in for something downright scary on Thursday night if the Lakers are able to swing a big trade prior to the deadline with Bullock not looking likely to suit up.