Report: Wizards interested in trade for Lou Williams

The Los Angeles Lakers have been mentioned as an active team ahead of this season’s trade deadline. Most speculation has been about Lou Williams, the team’s sixth man who has had the best season of his career. Williams’ play coupled with his tremendous contract make him an intriguing prospect for teams in the playoff picture.

Enter the Washington Wizards, currently the East’s third-best team and one that relies heavily on its starters to carry the load. The Wizards’ bench currently scores 23.4 points per game, the second-worst mark in the NBA. It also holds the third-worst net rating among NBA benches at -5.8 points per 100 possessions.

Hoping to make a run into the postseason, the Wizards are looking for bench help and according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that means Williams (3:50 mark of the video below)

The prospects of Boston & Chicago reengaging on a Jimmy Butler deal this week. Trade deadline preview w/ @WojVerticalNBA and @ChrisMannixYS. pic.twitter.com/SeEyG2Lj94

— The Vertical (@TheVertical) February 19, 2017

Woj:

“They gotta improve their bench. They feel like if there’s a wing player that they can get in the trade market – Lou Williams from the Lakers, they have interest in, Bojan Bogdanovic with the Nets. Washington has shown an inclination to give up a future draft pick – a first round pick – potentially even in this draft to get at a veteran who may even turn out to be a rental for them.”

This sounds like the perfect opportunity for the Lakers. They are rumored to have put Williams on the trade block. Washington is a team desperate for a player of his caliber and with news that they would be willing to part ways with a draft pick, it would be the best situation for LA to take advantage of.

The Lakers’ draft pick situation is still not resolved; their first-round pick this year is top-three protected to Philadelphia and if they lose it, their 2019 pick will go to Orlando. Getting extra picks for veteran players who are not part of the future makeup of the team would be a win.

Keep checking back with us over the next week as the NBA Trade Deadline is on Thursday.