For the past couple of days, there were rumblings circulating around the Lakers that they were looking to make a move before the NBA trade deadline. The Lakers are interested in trading away one of their veteran players. According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, the Lakers have put guard Lou Williams on the trading block and have showcased him to several teams:
“I mentioned that the Los Angeles Lakers may look to trade Lou Williams and/or Nick Young. On Tuesday, a general manager confirmed that the Lakers have, in fact, shopped Williams and seem likely to move him prior to the deadline.”
Williams has been one of the Lakers’ best offensive players this year. In his 10th season in the NBA, Williams is averaging a career-high 18.4 points per game. He is also shooting a career-high 38 percent from deep. There is no doubt that Williams can make an immediate impact to a playoff contending team right away. He is an explosive and crafty scorer that creates a lot of trouble for opposing defenses. The Lakers should look to find a way to trade Williams in return for a first-round draft pick or a young developing player.
Trading Williams will hurt the Lakers’ bench. He provides instant scoring and a valuable threat on the offensive end. However, the Lakers do find themselves relying on Williams too much. Williams is a good player to have on a playoff team, but the Lakers are a rebuilding team. It would be mutually beneficial for both parties if they can find a suitable trade for Williams. The Lakers could allocate his minutes to D’Angelo Russell and play him more in the fourth quarter, while Williams could be a significant contributor on a contending team.
The NBA trade deadline is February 23.
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