NBA Rumors: Lakers "Very Active" In Trade Market, Two Players Top Wish List

 

They're trudging along at 16-16 after three straight losses, and they sit tied for 7th/8th in the Western Conference. It should come as no surprise to hear a report from NBA insider Shams Charania that the Los Angeles Lakers are "very active in the trade market."

"I heard directly from Rich Paul that LeBron James isn't leaving the Lakers.. this team just doesn't look it has the young legs that they need to have & they have been very active in the trade market" ~@ShamsCharania#PatMcAfeeShowLIVE #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/BZEAMM6Zkb

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 22, 2021

"(The Russell Westbrook trade) just hasn't paid dividends," said Charania. "This team just doesn't look like it has the young legs that they need to have & that's why I've heard that they have been active in the trade market."

He went on to name two players at the top of the Lakers' wish list. "When you look at a guy like Ben Simmons, they'd love to get their hands on a guy like him. Jerami Grant — those are the types of guys they need on this team: young, 6'9", 6'10" athletic wings that can handle the ball, can score, can pass. They need guys like that, they don't have enough of them that have the youth-in-their-prime type of experience."

Whether the Lakers have the assets to swing a deal for players of that caliber is another story altogether. They dealt all of their main trade pieces to the Washington Wizards in the offseason to obtain Westbrook. 

Laker fans can debate whether Russ is the problem, or another disappointing season from Anthony Davis (plus he'll now miss at least four weeks with an MCL sprain in his left knee), or even coach Frank Vogel, but this is the hand they've been dealt, and now they'll look to the trade market to try and deal their way out of it. 

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports