Los Angeles Lakers: 5 potential buyout candidates to target

The Los Angeles Lakers made two moves prior to the NBA Trade Deadline, but they could still add a player from the buyout market. These are five potential buyout targets Los Angeles could target.

The Los Angeles Lakers made two trades prior to the NBA Trade Deadline. While they were unable to pry Anthony Davis away from the New Orleans Pelicans, they did improve the team with the transactions that were made.

Los Angeles’ goals were clear heading into the deadline. If they were unable to land Davis, they wanted to improve the spacing and 3-point shooting. They accomplished that with the players that were acquired.

In the first deal, the Lakers landed Reggie Bullock from the Detroit Pistons. In exchange, the Lakers sent rookie Svi Mykhailiuk and a future second-round pick to Detroit. In the second deal, the Lakers landed Mike Muscala from the Los Angeles Clippers, who was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in the Tobias Harris trade. Heading across the hallway are Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac.

Bullock is a nearly 40 percent shooter from the 3-point line in his career, while Muscala knocks down 36.5 percent of his 3-point attempts. Both players will help open things up for the Lakers offensively with their floor spacing ability.

The biggest takeaway from the trades is that the Lakers opened up a roster spot. That means they will be able to add yet another player to the roster via the buyout market.

While all the focus has been on the trade deadline, and rightfully so, the player movement doesn’t end there. The buyout market will provide a chance for contending teams to add veterans to their roster to give them that late season push.

Clearing a roster spot was necessary for the Lakers to get in on the action, and they accomplished that with the trade with the Clippers.

This year, the buyout market is quite robust. There are a number of players that could help teams around the NBA, in addition to the Lakers.

These five players are potential targets for the Lakers on the buyout market.