The rumours surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers and Buddy Hield aren’t going away anytime soon. According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Lakers might still pursue the sharpshooting guard after his colleague Myles Turner rejected an extension offer from the Indiana Pacers.
“The Lakers and Pacers had more serious conversations about a Westbrook/Turner/Hield exchange before the season, but that eventually fell through, with Indiana needing two first-round selections for any deal,” Pincus said.
“If Turner isn’t restructured and extended, the Lakers may still pursue Hield, but it would cost Los Angeles Lakers a first-round pick to shift away from Westbrook.”
Los Angeles Lakers were negotiating with the Pacers to acquire both players in exchange for Russell Westbrook’s expiring $47 million contract. However, that transaction fell through because the organisation was hesitant to part up future first-round picks. LA just has two firsts remaining (2027 and 2029).
According to NBA speculations, the Los Angeles Lakers will only utilise those choices if they receive a superstar-caliber player in exchange. According to reports, the Lakers are interested in Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, and Bradley Beal if available.
Los Angeles Lakers may be holding out on those selections in order to take advantage of that chance. That probability, though, appears remote. The Lakers’ three “dream targets” have all openly committed to their respective teams.
Buddy Hield remains a realistic objective for the Lakers and a necessary element for the team’s improvement. This season, Hield is averaging 17.9 points per game while shooting 42.9% from 3-point range on 9.0 attempts. The Lakers are lacking in 3-point shooting and a solid third-scorer. In that perspective, the former Kings swingman would be an excellent acquisition.
The Los Angeles Lakers value Russell Westbrook enough to not trade first-round picks to get rid of his money
Russell Westbrook was the focus of prospective deals for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. Westbrook’s name remains in the rumour mill. However, according to Eric Pincus, the Lakers must include a first-round selection in any prospective deal to dump his payroll.
However, Los Angeles Lakers do not believe that is necessary. Westbrook’s better play after being placed on the bench has led the team’s hierarchy to feel that they won’t have to include a first-round selection unless the return immediately improves their prospects of making a deep postseason run.
The Los Angeles Lakers are 18-21 and on a three-game winning run to begin the 2023 season. They were missing Anthony Davis throughout that time, thus the current roster has shown incredible promise. However, the Lakers require renovations in order to maintain their current shape.
They’ve been inconsistent this season. A major part of it is due to the way their roster is put together. They require greater wing size and perimeter shooting. Given their previous performance, it’s reasonable to believe that the squad is just a few pieces away from being a serious contender.
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