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NBA trade rumors: 3 Klutch clients on the market the Lakers could pursue

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena on January 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 15: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena on January 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Gary Trent Jr.

The Toronto Raptors are in an interesting place where the team will almost certainly sell at the deadline. Toronto has been disappointing this season and is currently fighting for a spot in the play-in. Toronto has a 20-25 record and has several assets to sell.

The most likely of those assets is Gary Trent Jr. Trent is a very solid role player who undoubtedly has a positive impact on this team. However, Trent has a player option after this season that he is certainly going to use to opt out of his deal and the Raptors have other players with higher priority to pay.

Thus, a Trent trade is likely and if the price gets low enough, the Lakers can swoop in and make a deal happen. In a perfect world, Los Angeles would be able to trade Patrick Beverley and a protected pick (or 2028 pick swap) in order to secure Trent’s services.

Everything we have heard is that the Lakers won’t trade their future picks unless it is for a star but this could be an exception. Los Angeles is approaching the deadline with more of a long-term view and Trent plays into that.

Trent is only 23 years old and he would be worth the draft pick and the $20-25 million+ salary he will get after this season. He would be an excellent perimeter scorer to add next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis and will presumably only get better with time.

This is someone who the Lakers can lock down for the next four years at a reasonable price considering where the league is going and the fact that the salary cap will spike in a few years with a new TV deal.

If Toronto is willing to make a deal for Beverley and a future first then the Lakers absolutely have to consider it.

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