The Lakers are not looking to trade LeBron James, despite the buzz around it. He has a no-trade clause, which means he has control over the situation, and he has never indicated a desire to leave the team. LeBron made his comeback on Sunday night, putting an end to some of the rampant online rumors.
The Lakers aim to enhance their roster for LeBron and Anthony Davis as the trade deadline approaches, beginning with the pursuit of a more conventional center, leading to talks about acquiring Jonas Valanciunas. He is a reliable and experienced big man, currently averaging 12.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for the Wizards this season.
He effectively utilizes his size for paint defense and has the ability to contribute offensively with a career 34% shooting from beyond the arc. He has a fair contract, earning $9.9 million this season and $10 million in each of the following two seasons.
The Wizards are ready to engage, and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has initiated some early discussions with them, according to Brian Windhorst at ESPN. The Lakers are expected to consider trading Gabe Vincent to Washington, but they may need to include a pick to make the deal more appealing. Anticipate discussions between the parties to intensify, as this situation resembles the one with the Warriors and Schroder, where the team may seek to act swiftly to finalize an agreement.
To gain something, a sacrifice is necessary, and one of the hurdles for the Lakers in pursuing a trade is their lack of highly sought-after players.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic on “Buha’s Block with Jovan Buha,” Austin Reaves stands out as an exception, but he is not up for grabs. Reaves is a solid secondary playmaker, putting up averages of 16.8 points and 4.9 assists per game.
He is currently on a team-friendly deal, earning $12.9 million this season and $13.9 million next season. Although he has a player option for 2026-27, his contract is significantly below market value, making it unlikely he will exercise that option.
Reaves has captured the hearts of fans in Los Angeles, and the Lakers are unlikely to part ways with him unless they receive an irresistible offer.
Sacramento is committed to its key trio — De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis — yet this foundation has them at 13-13, currently sitting outside the play-in picture in a competitive Western Conference. The Kings are seeking to enhance their roster with role-player additions as the trade deadline approaches.
Sacramento is open to trading Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles, according to reports from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. The Kings might consider including a few first-round picks in a favorable trade.
Huerter has faced challenges with his shooting this season. His career three-point shooting percentage stands at 37.8%, but this season it has dropped to 31.1%, raising some concerns. Nonetheless, scoring opportunities are limited across the league, and another team might believe he simply requires a fresh environment to improve.
