The Los Angeles Lakers' reported pursuit of Brandon Jennings, Greg Monroe and Dion Waiters this past week only suggested that general manager Mitch Kupchack and the Lakers front-office are primed to make some big moves on the trading market ahead of February 19 trade deadline.
With the Lakers' postseason hope all gone, Kupchack and the Lakers brain-trust now shift their focus on forming a competitive team next season - which is likely the last of Kobe Bryant's legendary career.
Several analysts think the Lakers will start making moves in adding more assets and young pieces to their roster through a series of low-ball but significant trades.
Aside from Steve Nash's expiring contract worth $9M, there are three players on the Lakers roster who are deemed tradable: Jordan Hill, Ed Davis and Jeremy Lin.
Although it's still unclear how the Lakers can get solid returns by dealing away these players, their trade targets showed their willingness to add a first-round pick (most probably the first-rounder they acquired from the Houston Rockets along with Lin last offseason) to salvage an up-and-coming star.
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson has been on the Lakers' radar for quite some time now, and their pursuit of the explosive playmaker is expected to escalate further over the next few weeks.
The Toronto Raptors are another potential buyer because of their need to beef up their frontline, which has been badly exposed during their recent skid. While Toronto doesn't have tradable players that may get the Lakers' excited, general manager Masai Ujiri possesses a trump card in the form of a future first-round pick acquired from the New York Knicks in the Andrea Bargnani trde. The Lakers could be interested in acquiring such precious pick which might end up pretty high because of New York's current state.
The Lakers could also explore a potential deal with the Knicks for salary-dumping purposes. Lin, who made a name for himself as a member of the Knickerbockers three years ago, might be an interesting acquisition for New York vice president of basketball operation Phil Jackson, as the Zen Master looks to put some cushion on the team's plummeting ticket sale.
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