Why trading Kent Bazemore makes no sense for the Los Angeles Lakers
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to shake up the roster as we near the halfway point of the 2021-22 NBA season. The Lakers have been extremely disappointing this season and just like every other disappointing LeBron James-led team at the trade deadline, moves will be made.
The Lakers made their first move of the season by trading Rajon Rondo in a three-way deal that essentially just opened up a roster spot for free. The team can now re-sign Stanley Johnson.
The Lakers did this to avoid outright releasing Rondo and then signing someone. The team would have had to pay Rondo’s salary and the tax implications of it as well as the new contract brought in and those tax implications.
The Lakers are reportedly also looking to trade DeAndre Jordan and Kent Bazemore for the same reason. While we already broke down three potential trade packages for Jordan, it is a bit harder for Bazemore. Why?
It makes no sense for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade Kent Bazemore.
It certainly is not because he is playing well this season because he has not been. He has been horrible and has played himself out of the rotation. However, this is a different situation from Rondo and even Jordan. The only way a Bazemore trade makes any sense is if he is included in a bigger deal for someone else. However, recent NBA rumors seem to strike down any potentially big trade for the Lakers.
There are two important reasons why it makes no sense for the Lakers to trade Kent Bazemore at any point this season. Let’s dive into them.