Los Angeles Lakers rumors: D.J. Augustin a potential trade target

Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve point guard D.J. Augustin of the Orlando Magic, as he is a potential trade target for the purple and gold.

With the NBA Trade Deadline a month away, Los Angeles Lakers rumors are beginning to pick up. Despite having a 29-7 record and leading the Western Conference, the team could use some upgrades on the roster.

Right now, there are two glaring needs on the roster. Point guard and another wing defender. Los Angeles is holding out hope that Andre Iguodala is bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies, as he would fill both holes. However, that seems like a longshot as Memphis holds out for a trade involving Iguodala.

As a result, the team will have to look elsewhere to upgrade the roster. Seemingly everyone can use help in the backcourt, and with the limited amount of assets that the Lakers have, they will need to get creative when making a trade.

Los Angeles cannot currently trade a first-round pick because of how many they sent to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis. A second-round pick cannot be traded until 2023.

That will limit who the Lakers can target in trades, as many teams won’t want to engage with them given how little they have to offer. The team wouldn’t have to trade anyone to add Darren Collison, who has been linked to the Lakers as a potential landing spot if he comes out of retirement.

According to Heavy.com, the Lakers aren’t putting all their eggs into the Collison basket.

"“There’s not a lot they can do with the assets that they have,” one league executive told Heavy.com. “Whatever they can pull together, they’re going to try to get help at the point guard spot.”"

Heavy.com also shared that the Lakers have inquired about a number of veteran point guards to help upgrade their backcourt. Another player to keep an eye on is D.J. Augustin of the Orlando Magic.

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The Magic are hanging tough currently in the Eastern Conference, as they currently hold down the seventh seed. However, their playoff chances took a big hit with Jonathan Isaac hurting his knee. If they decide to be sellers instead of buyers at the deadline, Augustin will be a name that pops up in plenty of Lakers rumors given what he brings to the table.

For starters, the Magic have former No. 1 overall pick, Markelle Fultz, taking a stranglehold of the starting point guard spot. For the Lakers, Augustin fits a lot of needs.

He has been a solid 3-point shooter in his career, knocking down 38 percent in his career. He is a great free-throw shooter as well, making 86.5 percent for his career from the charity stripe.

Augustin’s playmaking would also be welcomed to Los Angeles. While his 4.0 assists per game aren’t eye-popping, he averages 6.0 per  36 minutes in his career and fits the bill as a facilitator and playmaker as his assist percentage of 26.8 percent is strong.

Augustin would be a solid addition to the Lakers, but acquiring him will be challenging. They don’t have much to offer and if he does hit the trade block there will be plenty of teams inquiring about acquiring him from Orlando.