jj redick rob pelinka
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JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ most realistic in-season trade target may be slipping out of reach as interest around the league intensifies.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis has drawn trade interest from nearly half the NBA, dramatically reshaping a market that once appeared plausible for the Lakers.
“An estimated 14 teams have registered varying degrees of trade interest in Sacramento’s Keon Ellis,” Stein wrote.
That figure represents a sharp jump from last week, when The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that “approximately 10 teams” were pursuing the 26-year-old defensive-minded guard.
“The Kings are seeking a late first-round pick in the deal,” Amick wrote.
The expanding bidding war has complicated what once looked like a viable path for Los Angeles to address its perimeter defense before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Lakers Reluctant to Enter Bidding War for Ellis
Keon Ellis, Lakers
GettySacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis is on the Lakers’ radar, but so are a lot of teams.
The Lakers currently have just one first-round pick available to trade during the season — either their 2031 or 2032 selection — and the organization has been reluctant to deploy it now.
League observers expect Los Angeles to preserve that asset for the offseason, when it could unlock up to three first-round picks and roughly $50 million in cap space, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
As Ellis’ market continues to swell, the Lakers are unlikely to escalate their offer or enter a prolonged bidding war for a role player.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin included Ellis among a broad group of perimeter options the Lakers could explore as they seek defensive versatility and shooting.
“They need help on the perimeter,” McMenamin wrote. “A guy like Jonathan Kuminga, maybe he could be someone the Lakers could pursue. Maybe Andrew Wiggins in Miami. Someone like Keon Ellis in Sacramento, De’Andre Hunter, Peyton Watson. The list goes on and on.”
With Ellis’ price climbing, that list has begun to narrow.
De’Andre Hunter Emerges as Top Lakers Target
As Ellis becomes less attainable, Hunter has emerged atop the Lakers’ trade board.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Cleveland Cavaliers have ramped up discussions involving Hunter and are actively exploring the market for the former No. 4 overall pick.
“Sources say that the Cavaliers are engaged in various conversations on De’Andre Hunter,” Fischer wrote. “But many teams view his $20-plus million salary for next season as negative value when also factoring in his injury history.”
That assessment has not deterred Los Angeles.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported that Hunter has become the Lakers’ top trade target heading into the deadline.
“The Cavs want value back that they sent out to get Hunter from the Hawks,” Siegel wrote. “It doesn’t seem like they’re going to get that, and since then, we’ve heard directly from sources that the Cavaliers are actively discussing trades involving Hunter, and he’s likely to be on the move in the coming week.
“One of the teams we keep hearing in connection to De’Andre Hunter — and it makes a lot of sense given their need for a three-and-D wing — is the Los Angeles Lakers.”
Warriors, Heat Focus Elsewhere
Other teams previously linked to the Lakers’ wing search appear unlikely partners.
Golden State is not believed to have interest in Los Angeles’ expiring contracts and is widely expected to prioritize Kuminga as a centerpiece in potential blockbuster discussions, including any Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit. Miami, meanwhile, has also been linked to Antetokounmpo and is expected to protect its core assets.
Those realities have further narrowed the Lakers’ in-season options.
Offseason Contingency Already Taking Shape
If no deal materializes before the deadline, the Lakers are already laying the groundwork for an offseason pivot.
According to Fischer, Los Angeles is preparing to pursue Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, who is approaching restricted free agency amid Denver’s growing salary constraints.
“It must be said, though, that rival executives are increasingly curious about Denver’s likely struggles to retain Peyton Watson this summer,” Fischer wrote. “Sources say teams that are projected to have cap space — notably such as the Lakers — are already preparing interest.”
That combination leaves the Lakers increasingly positioned to stand pat at the deadline and pivot to a more aggressive offseason approach as in-season options narrow.