The Los Angeles Lakers have been quite poor this season, and their roster has shown that it just can’t work anymore. One of the biggest problems for the roster is Russell Westbrook, but his massive contract and poor form mean that trading him will be practically impossible.
That doesn’t mean that he is off the trading block. In fact, Lakers had coach Frank Vogel even refused to rule out the Lakers trading Russell Westbrook, noting that the Lakers would make whatever move they needed to in order to improve their squad ahead of the trade deadline.
But it appears the Lakers may be close to another significant trade. NBA insider Michael Scotto reported that the Lakers have been in talks with the New York Knicks, and Toronto Raptors over a potential three-team trade that would help the Lakers land Cam Reddish and Alec Burks.
The Raptors would receive Talen Horton-Tucker and Nerlens Noel from the New York Knicks, along with draft picks. And for the New York Knicks, they would receive Goran Dragic from the Toronto Raptors, a player who has been wanting to leave the franchise since joining them in the offseason. There is also a chance that Kendrick Nunn will be included in the trade.
Sources: The Lakers, Knicks and Raptors have discussed a 3-team trade.
Lakers get Cam Reddish and Alec Burks.
Knicks get Goran Dragic and draft picks.
Raptors get Talen Horton-Tucker and Nerlens Noel.
There’s also a chance Kendrick Nunn is added to the trade as talks continue
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 10, 2022
Cam Reddish being linked away from the Knicks so soon after the Knicks traded for him is not surprising, as it was revealed recently that Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau did not want Reddish, and has asked the franchise to trade him away and bring assets that he could better use. Plus, the Lakers offered to try and trade for him, before the Knicks landed him.
Will the Los Angeles Lakers be able to pull off this trade ahead of the trade deadline today? The Lakers front office will have to work extremely hard to make this deal happen before the deadline. But if they want to improve their squad, they will have to make it happen.
