The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be among aggressive sellers in the coming weeks building up to February 19 trade deadline, as they look to convert bunches of expiring contracts into assets.
Basketball Insiders writer Alex Kennedy believes a trade appears to be inevitable for the Lakers, considering their hopes of making it in the postseason have already dashed away.
While Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchack surprisingly continues to refrain himself from pulling off blockbuster deals on the trading front, his latest move to acquire big man prospect Tarik Black suggests of a potential maneuver waiting to happen.
Aside from Steve Nash's $10M expiring contract, the Lakers might consider shipping the expiring deal of Jeremy Lin ($8M) along with a couple of frontline players, Jordan Hill and Ed Davis, who is currently playing on salary-cap friendly contracts.
Jordan Hill, who is putting up solid numbers this season (averaging at least 12 points and 7 rebounds per game), signed a two-year, $18M deal last season, with a team option for the next season. Davis, on the other hand, is playing on a cheap $981,084 but has a chance to test the market if doesn't exercise his players option for the next season.
"I do think the Lakers are a team to watch as the trade deadline approaches. It really makes sense for them to make some moves. Ed Davis and Jeremy Lin can become unrestricted free agents this summer, so they may look to trade them to get something in return rather than losing them for nothing," Kennedy stated.
"It may be hard for them to get significant assets back in return since those two can walk in the summer, but getting something back makes sense.
"Jordan Hill could also be on the move, as his trade value is at an all-time high since he's having a career-year. The Lakers have an incentive to trade away veterans too, as it would help them lose games and keep their top-five draft pick (even though they insist they aren't tanking). The Lakers are definitely a team to watch as Feb. 19 gets closer."
Although Lin is still a solid trade target for several contenders because of his ability to contribute off the bench, his $8M expiring contract proves to be the stumbling block in any possible deal. However, the Lakers could capitalize on a growing demand for productive big man, making Hill and Davis very much dispensable at this point.
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