The Los Angeles Lakers continue to be mentioned in trade rumors ahead of next month's trade deadline, and more clarity about the team's plans has emerged.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported Tuesday that the Lakers want to trade their unprotected future first-round picks for more assets.
"The Lakers have canvassed teams to see whether they could find a deal to send out their 2031 or 2032 first-round pick in order to get multiple firsts back for it," McMenamin said.
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The move would give the Lakers more tradable assets if a bigger deal becomes more likely this offseason.
"Being armed with more tradable picks would give L.A. more options this trade season, beyond the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber," he said.
LA has a strong core of Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. But two of those three face uncertain futures with the Lakers. James will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and Reaves will likely decline his $14.8 million player option in search of a bigger contract.
Keon Ellis, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III are three players the Lakers are reportedly targeting. McMenamin believes the Lakers may opt for smaller moves at the deadline given how expensive retaining James and Reaves will be.
"It would stand to reason for the Lakers to make moves on the margins around those three, but there has to be at least some consideration to the fact that James and Reaves are both impending free agents," he said.
The Lakers (27-18) are fifth in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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