Los Angeles Lakers trade rumors, Lakers trade targets, Marcus Smart, Daniel Gafford trade rumors, Herb Jones trade rumors, Lakers news, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, NBA trade rumors, NBA trade deadline
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The Los Angeles Lakers haven't been quiet about the trade rumors surrounding their team and potential targets, which Marcus Smart knows well.
The Los Angeles Lakers havebeen reported for the past few months to be looking to add defensive help before the 2026 NBA trade deadline on February 5th, but as the days count down, the possibility of them making a ground-breaking move to fix their biggest issue feels less and less likely.
But while theyhaven’t made a deal yet, thatshouldn’t rule the Lakers out from being buyers before the deadline, and guard Marcus Smart knows that, as well as the fact that he or one of his teammates could be on the chopping block.
After a recent game, Smart spoke about the struggles of playing for a teaminvolved inso manytrade rumors. Whether the front office decides to move him or someone else on the roster, he said, it is difficult to ‘build a relationship‘with players who hold such an uncertain future, which includes himself.
Dave McMenamin
“It’s difficult. Because you just don’t know, you build a relationship with the guy to the left and to the right, and then he could possibly be gone. Or you could possibly be gone.” – Marcus Smart on the long road trip leading right up to the trade deadline
“It’s difficult.Because youjust don’t know, you build a relationship with the guy to the left and to the right, and then he could possibly be gone,”Smart toldESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Or you could possibly be gone.”
All signs point to the Lakers targeting either a defensive-minded wing or big man by the deadlineto,hopefully for theteam, pair with Luka Doncic for thelong-term future.
Marcus Smart On Lakers Trade Rumors
Los Angeles signed Smart over the summer in hopes of him becoming one of their top perimeter defenders, even though heisn’t the same type of player that won the Defensive Player of the Year award with the Boston Celtics in 2022.
The aging guard has been somewhat helpful in that role, but with injuries and the overarching concerns across the roster on that side of the floor, hehasn’t been a fix to theLakers’ defensive struggles seen through the first half of the season.
That’s why, along with a few other players,Smart’s name hasbeen floated out as someone whocould be traded before the deadline.
“It’s part of the business, unfortunately,”Smart added on being involved in trade rumors. “A lot of us have been through this (for) multiple years…It’s tough, butwe’re all professionals, andit’s part of the business.”
Bleacher Report
JJ Redick went OFF after Lakers loss to Rockets 😳
“Saturday’s practice… it’s going to be uncomfortable. I’m not doing another 53 games like this.”
(Via @LakersNation)
Smart also said that the teamhasn’t played as well recentlycompared to how they started the season. The Lakers have an upcoming eight-game road trip before the February 5th trade deadline, and their overall play in that stretch could very well decide the fate of a few players on their roster, including him as well.
Lakers Trade Rumors, Potential Packages, Top Targets
Along with Smart, there are a few assets in particular that Los Angelesis predicted to use in a potential trade for any difference-maker. The contracts of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber, along with either theteam’s2031 or 2032 first-round picks, have been listed as their best package to land a big-name defender before the trade deadline.
“With about $40 million in expiring contracts betweenRui Hachimura,Gabe Vincent andMaxi Kleber, and either their 2031 or 2032 first-round draft pick to package in trade scenarios, can L.A. find some sorely needed two-way wing help?”McMenamin asked, writing for ESPN.
Itisn’t to say that all of those players have been the ones causing theLakers’ defense to struggle, as Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and much of the rest of the roster has played a part in their near-bottom of the league defensive rating. Yet still, those players would likely be the ones the front office would be willing to cut ties with by the deadline.
All indications say the Lakers are still targeting a wing or big man defender.They’ve had their eyes on Herb Jones and Trey Murphy of the New Orleans Pelicans, as well as Daniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks, who has a strong history playing next to Doncic.
“Herb Jones is an obvious target on the wing, though the Lakers might want to prioritize a big man with a higher-revving motor and faster processing than Deandre Ayton, at whom some ofRedick’s annoyance seems directed,”Grant Hughes wrote for Bleacher Report. “Former Dončić teammate Daniel Gafford should be a consideration.”
Whileit’s hard to see President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka moving either Doncic, James, or Reaves,it’s fair to say nobody else on the team is safe in trade rumors as the deadline approaches.