Ranking the Lakers' minimum contracts by likelihood of being traded

Ranking the Lakers’ minimum contracts by likelihood of being traded

By Jason Reed | Dec 17, 2022

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 07: Juan Toscano-Anderson #95 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs a loose ball against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on December 7, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Damian Jones

If Lakers fans were able to candidly ask the front office which player they would want to trade first it would definitely be Damian Jones. The backup center has been very disappointing for the Lakers this season to the point where he is not really even in the team’s rotation any longer.

Jones had his chance to make a mark early on in the season while Thomas Bryant was hurt and he simply didn’t. Now that Bryant is back in the fold, and with Gabriel playing so well, there really is no spot for Jones on this team.

That is not even the main reason why Los Angeles likely wants to trade Jones the most. The main reason is his contract being two years. The Lakers are locked into another esason of Jones not really having a role on the roster and they definitely would prefer to free that roster and cap space.

But whichever team that acquires him also has to acquire that second season. So while Rob Pelinka would probably be pushing to include Jones over any other player, there is a pretty good chance that the other team would refuse to take Jones in the deal.

That leaves one player that has disappointed this season and has no real role in a fully-healthy rotation that the Lakers can include in a trade.

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