Hitting two birds with one stone would be a dream for the Los Angeles Lakers when it comes to filling trade needs ahead of the looming Feb. 5 deadline. Few teams would allow them to attempt that more seamlessly than the Philadelphia 76ers.
Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond, and Kelly Oubre Jr. — getting your hands on at least two of the three before the trade deadline would be a dream for the Lakers. There is reason to believe they should be gettable too.
Sixers insider Keith Pompey wrote, "Sources around the league say the team is willing to part ways with Drummond. ... Some around the league are wondering if the Sixers are willing to part ways with Oubre, whose name keeps coming up as a possible trade chip."
All three of those players are on expiring contracts, hinting there could be wiggle room for a trade. The challenge for the Lakers would be to find something that works for both sides. For Los Angeles, nabbing any one of those three players would be a virtual no-brainer.
76ers are emerging as the one team positioned to help the Lakers now
Oubre has long stood out as a name who would fit right in among the Lakers. The added reliability of his 3-point shot in 2025-26 only makes him an even more attractive addition for Los Angeles. At 37.5 percent from beyond the arc, the 76ers wing is shooting the best mark of his career.
Oubre's switchability and relentlessness defensively would offer a rare opportunity for a real two-way boost on a scarce 3-and-D market ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline. It would be a sneaky-good win for the Lakers.
If not Oubre, Grimes could be an intriguing name to envision in Los Angeles. The Dallas Mavericks even attempted to put him beside Luka Doncic before sending both out of town in 2024-25. A down year in terms of his offensive efficiency could drop his trade price just enough for the Lakers.
It is important to remember that Grimes can veto any trade after a restricted free agency holdup with the 76ers during this past offseason. Even so, one would not imagine a player interested in a payday passing up the opportunity to be featured in the spotlight of Los Angeles.
Drummond could be a good boost to the frontcourt too. That is especially true after the 76ers center added a respectable ability to stretch the court on offense.
In short, there is a lot for the Lakers to like in a potential deal with the 76ers. The real matter would be if Los Angeles has enough to send back to Philadelphia to make any interest mutual. If there is, there should be some real conversations to be had between the two sides.