After a 4-6 start that had some wondering about the job security of coach Luke Walton, the Lakers have taken advantage of a favorable schedule and put together a 13-4 stretch that has them tied for the No. 4 seed in the West. Now a team that looked like it might struggle to earn a postseason spot can start imagining a deep postseason run in a conference that isn’t as top-heavy as it has been in the past.
Despite the recent rise, rival executives say that the Lakers have been among the most aggressive pursuers of early-season trades, hoping to shore up their depth, especially on the wing.
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ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers would like to pluck small forward Trevor Ariza, who played 106 combined games for Los Angeles in 2008 and 2009, from the Suns. Ariza may be the top option, but there are other possible targets.
Among them, a source told Sporting News, is another former Laker — Heat guard Wayne Ellington, a 3-point specialist who would help LA’s struggles from the 3-point arc. Ellington is on a one-year deal with the Heat, and he has the right to veto a trade.
But as Miami’s season continues to look fruitless, Ellington’s name has come up more in trade talks. The Heat would be open to moving Ellington to a playoff team for a first-round pick, according to sources. He has averaged 10.0 points and is making 38.1 percent of his 3-pointers.
Another target is Magic forward Terrence Ross, but with the 27-year-old averaging 14.1 points on a career-best 56.8 true shooting percentage, his value might be out of the Lakers’ range.
There has been talk, too, about the Lakers adding a big man, though that remains unlikely. The team did sign Tyson Chandler last month, and there aren’t many other candidates on the market. Another Orlandan, Nikola Vucevic, has been rumored, but increasingly, it looks like the Magic will keep him as they develop rookie Mo Bamba.
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One thing all Lakers targets have in common is that they can be free agents this summer, an indicator that the front office’s strategy has not changed. The Lakers want to hang on to their young pieces — Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart — and keep them out of trade talks.
They also want to keep the payroll clear so that they can aggressively pursue a star free agent to play with LeBron James. Any trade the Lakers make, then, will be for an expiring contract, which limits the pool of possibilities. They also run the risk of giving up a pick for a player who will be a one-year rental.
But league sources say the Lakers want to add to the depth of this team to give it a fair shot at going deep into the playoffs. After signing James last summer, the Lakers did not bring in another star-quality player, opting instead for patience.
That does not mean, though, that the team is willing to sacrifice this season, not with James turning 34 at the end of the month. The Warriors — still the favorite to win the West — have had struggles this season, the Rockets and Jazz have been major disappointments and the Lakers see a trip to the Finals in James’ first season as a real possibility.
With that in mind, the Lakers continue patrolling the market for another player or two. They’ve been winning lately, and their expectations have grown as they’ve risen in the standings.