With 30 games left in the regular season for them, the Los Angeles Lakers are finally getting healthy. Anthony Davis and Lonnie Walker IV, two of their leading scorers, returned in recent days after being sidelined for weeks due to injury.
In addition, they brought in 24-year-old forward Rui Hachimura last week while only surrendering little-used guard Kendrick Nunn and three second-round draft picks.
The roster Los Angeles currently has isn’t necessarily the same roster it will have when the trade deadline passes on Feb. 9.
NBA reporter Chris Haynes said he believes general manager Rob Pelinka still has something up his sleeve (h/t Lakers Daily).
“I still think Rob Pelinka still has a move or two left in him” – Chris Haynes pic.twitter.com/olSfYaEIyj
— 🌟Fake (@LALeBron23) January 30, 2023
One of the positives of the Hachimura trade, aside from his talent and skills, is the fact it left the Lakers with most of their main trade assets, including their 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks.
They could make another significant, but not major, move by using Patrick Beverley’s $13 million expiring contract as salary ballast, along with possibly a player who makes the veteran’s minimum salary, or possibly Walker, who has a $6.48 million expiring deal.
The other option would be to trade Russell Westbrook and his $47 million expiring deal, along with one or both of their available future first-rounders for a more earth-shattering package.
