After 45 games and just 22 wins this season, the Los Angeles Lakers are aggressively scouring the trade market to secure at least one upgrade. Their biggest trade target, according to reports, is Atlanta Hawks star guard Dejounte Murray, but there are a number of other players they’re also interested in.
While they would love to upgrade from D’Angelo Russell, who has been on a tear lately after slumping for most of December, they have a couple of other needs. They would like another legitimate facilitating guard, ideally one with foot speed, which has resulted in some interest in Collin Sexton of the Utah Jazz and Tyus Jones of the Washington Wizards.
According to ESPN, L.A. is also interested in Dennis Schroder, who played for it last season, as well as during the 2020-21 campaign.
Via ESPN:
“The Toronto Raptors have two players on their roster the Lakers have interest in as well, sources said: Dennis Schroder and Bruce Brown,” wrote Dave McMenamin. “Schroder was L.A.’s backup point guard last season before signing with Toronto for the full midlevel exception in the summer.”
Schroder gave the team some very valuable minutes last season, especially when Russell missed games late in the schedule with an ankle injury. He started 50 of 66 games for the Lakers last year during the regular season, and so far this season, he’s averaging 13.9 points and 6.3 assists a game.
The Lakers may also be targeting a big body
During the 2020-21 season, the Lakers signed veteran big man Andre Drummond off the buyout market for the stretch run. While he wasn’t a perfect fit, he put up 11.9 points and 10.2 rebounds in 21 regular-season games before he joined the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency that summer.
According to McMenamin, they may want to bring him back.
“The Lakers have also considered dealing for players who could address specific needs in a potential playoff matchup, such as Andre Drummond of the Bulls, in anticipation of a postseason rematch with the Denver Nuggets and their big front line of Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon, sources said.”
Drummond, 30, is still a productive rebounder with the Chicago Bulls. Of course, the Lakers previously had interest in Bulls star Zach LaVine, although Alex Caruso, yet another former Laker, may still be on their trade radar.
