Los Angeles Lakers: 5 potential buyout targets after NBA trade deadline

By Jason Reed | Feb 11, 2022

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 19: Dennis Schroder #71 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Avery Bradley #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden on November 19, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Gary Harris

Gary Harris was someone who the Los Angeles Lakers could have been eyeballing in a Russell Westbrook trade. The only team that it made sense to do a Russell Westbrook salary dump trade with was the Orlando Magic. The Magic have no intentions of winning, have the contracts to send to LA and need to hit the salary-cap floor next season anyway.

Harris would have been included in that deal but it obviously did not happen. There was no way that Harris was going to be traded to any other team at the deadline because of his $20 million salary and now he is a candidate to be bought out by the Magic to save some money.

The one caveat with Harris is that he adds more to the same to the Los Angeles Lakers and because of that he might not be really adding anything at all. Harris is another example of a player who can shoot the three but cannot play a lick of defense, joining the likes of Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington and Carmelo Anthony.

But as we mentioned, the Lakers are not a premier buyout spot so they might have to make a signing like Harris whereas other contending teams might pass on him because of his shoddy defense.

At the end of the day, the Lakers have to try something and switching out Kent Bazemore for Gary Harris is not going to make the team any worse.

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