According to the latest Los Angeles Lakers trade rumors, Milwaukee Bucks stars Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic have been mentioned as notable targets for the Purple and Gold.
Los Angeles Lakers could trade for Damian Lillard and either Brook Lopez or Jusuf Nurkic
Before the Portland Trail Blazers traded Lillard to the Bucks last October, multiple NBA teams were rumored to make a move to acquire both Lillard and Nurkic in a three-team deal.
Although a three-team trade was never finalized, a separate trade could soon be in the works. Nurkic is set to make $18.125 million this season and $19.375 million in 2025-26. This is part of the four-year $70 million contract he signed with Portland in 2022.
Dame and Nurkic played nearly seven full seasons together in Portland. However, the downside to trading for Nurkic is not only his salary but also his unpredictable health status.
Taking on almost $20 million per season for an often-injured center would be a tall order for the Lakers. If Los Angeles does find a way to add both, at least the 30-year-old Bosnian has chemistry with Dame.
Proposed three-team trade package
Then there’s the possibility of the Lakers only trading for Lillard and a few role players.
FanSided’s Craig Miller recently posted a three-team blockbuster trade involving the Bucks, Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs. The full trade details are as follows:
Lakers receive: Damian Lillard, Charles Bassey, Sandro Mamukelashvili
Bucks acquire: D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, 2029 first-round pick (via LAL), 2031 first-round pick (via LAL), 2026 second-round pick (via SA)
Spurs receive: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Christian Wood, 2025 second-round pick, 2030 second-round pick (via LAL), 2031 second-round pick (via MIL)
For the Lakers, the aforementioned trade would be a steal as they hold onto Austin Reaves and rookie Dalton Knecht. Both guards have received praise from first-year head coach JJ Redick.
Per Spotrac, Lillard is owed $48.78 million this season and $112.58 million over the next two seasons. The maximum veteran contract extension he signed with Portland in 2022 includes a $58.45 million player option for 2026-27.
Moving on from either Lillard or Giannis Antetokounmpo could be a good move for Milwaukee if the price is right.
Lakers might trade for both Lillard and Lopez
Based on the proposed trade package shown above, neither Lopez nor Nurkic is featured in the potential deal. Having said that, perhaps the Lakers would be better off with both Lillard and Lopez.
Lopez, 36, is in the final season of the two-year, $48 million contract he signed with Milwaukee last July. While Lopez is six years older than Nurkic, the Bucks center has still played in more games than Nurkic over the past few seasons.
Lopez appeared in 78 games in 2022-23 and 79 contests last season. Meanwhile, Nurkic has played in at least 70 games in a single campaign just once (76 games last season) since 2018-19.
If the Lakers can acquire both Lillard and Lopez, the 7-footer would provide insurance in the event that both Christian Koloko and Jaxon Hayes get injured. Anthony Davis is dealing with foot injuries as well.
Los Angeles has a number of injury-prone players, and LeBron James turns 40 in December. If the Lakers want to have any chance of winning another championship, an in-season blockbuster trade is necessary.
