The Los Angeles Lakers had a subdued trade deadline, largely due to the lack of interest in their role players by other teams.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to a report by Jovan Buha of The Athletic, rival teams showed little desire to acquire D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent in trade discussions before the deadline.
Buha mentioned that the Lakers would have had to include additional assets, often one of their tradable first-round picks, to facilitate any potential trades involving these players.
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Following their appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2023, the Lakers have struggled to maintain their momentum. With a record of 27-26 after a recent loss to the Denver Nuggets, they currently hold the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference.
D’Angelo Russell: These Injuries Have Resulted In Inconsistency In His Performance
Both Hachimura and Vincent have faced challenges in staying healthy since joining the Lakers in the 2023 offseason.
Hachimura has missed 14 games due to various injuries, including a concussion, calf injury, and fractured nose. These injuries have resulted in inconsistency in his performance, despite shooting 49.2 percent from the field throughout the season.
On the other hand, Vincent has not played a game since December 20 due to knee problems.
D’Angelo Russell’s Name Was Frequently Mentioned In Trade Rumors Leading Up To The Deadline
He underwent arthroscopic surgery and is expected to return in early March, according to reports by Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
Russell’s name was frequently mentioned in trade rumors leading up to the deadline, particularly in discussions between the Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks involving former All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray.
However, Atlanta did not show significant interest in taking on Russell’s contract, which includes a player option worth approximately $18.6 million for the 2024-25 season, as reported by Spotrac.
With minimal trade activity, the Lakers are expected to focus on the buyout market as they aim to bolster their roster for another deep postseason run led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
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