The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching and most are pondering what the Los Angeles Lakers will do. Unfortunately, it appears that given they are limited financially, sacrificing some of their current assets is the only way to go.
Of the players that may have a high value on the purple and gold side is Russell Westbrook. But aside from a big salary, there is little to no interest in the former NBA MVP.
The money owed to Westbrook is a big burden to NBA teams who prefer to take a chance on other players who don’t cost much. The next names being mentioned are DeAndre Jordan and Talen Horton-Tucker. There may be others who could be part of the package but nothing has been hinted at thus far.
With those scenarios detailed, NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski feels the Lakers may not be big players at the NBA trade deadline. The scribe goes on to point how the Lakers don’t necessarily have big assets, hinting that any improvements on the Los Angeles side will have to come from within.
The Lakers have not been that impressive this season. With a stellar (but aging) roster, most expected the purple and gold to be lording it over the Western Conference standings.
But injuries to LeBron James, Anthony Davis and other key names have made life difficult for head coach Frank Vogel. So unless the Lakers coach can devise something, winning the NBA title does not look promising.
It is also worth noting that compared to last season, Vogel does not have an excuse this time around. He needs to prove his coaching savvy, the ability to make things work even with top stars out injured.
According to The Athletic, the job of Vogel is in serious jeopardy following the Lakers' humiliating loss to the Denver Nuggets and the narrow win over the Utah Jazz.
The report added that Vogel is currently being evaluated. His contract runs through the 2022-23 campaign but is at risk of being fired unless the Lakers turn things around soon.
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