The NBA trade deadline came and went and the Los Angeles Lakers did not make any moves. With the likes of the Los Angeles Clippers landing Marcus Morris, who can the purple and gold land in the buyout market to support LeBron James on the wing?
As the trade deadline moved closer and closer, Los Angeles Lakers fans and the NBA community were on edge waiting for Woj bombs to drop left and right. To a certain extent, NBA Twitter was left a bit disappointed.
With the likes of Andre Drummond, Marcus Morris, D’Angelo Russell, Andrew Wiggins, Robert Covington, and Clint Capela all being traded, it made for some interesting moves on each of the team’s part. Some teams, such as the Clippers, potentially getting better, while the likes of the Rockets and Pistons getting potentially worse.
With many fans of the purple and gold expecting the Lakers to be involved in the thick of trade discussions, they were disappointed to find out that general manager Rob Pelinka was unable to get any trades over the line before the deadline.
Although, this was not from a lack of trying with the Lakers refusing to part with Danny Green and Kyle Kuzma for Marcus Morris according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
Lakers/Clippers in trade conversations about Knicks' Marcus Morris, sources. NY interested in Kyle Kuzma; would need Danny Green's contract to make work. NY would want to move Green to another team. Clippers willing to part with Mo Harkless, but like Landry Shamet, who NY wants.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) February 5, 2020
With the deadline now passed, it is time for the Lakers’ front office to focus on potentially strengthening the roster via free agency or the buyout market. Can Rob Pelinka sprinkle some magic and land the Lakers a piece to help them compete for a title?
Here are three players the Lakers could land via free agency or the buyout market to help on the wing behind LeBron James.