Hassan Whiteside (Photo : El Nuevo Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
The LA Lakers may actually get involved at the deadline as NBA trade rumors circulate on their interest for a defensive center.
While the Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has mentioned that they would likely stand pat at the trade deadline, there were actual rumblings that they did express interest for a defensive center, specifically Nerlens Noel. This was reported by Sean Deveney of Sporting News.
"They had talks with Atlanta about Paul Millsap and expressed interest in Nerlens Noel, if the Sixers decide to go ahead with a deal for him. But the best asset the Lakers can put forth is a future draft pick, probably not until 2021 depending on how the lottery plays out this May. That's going to limit their activity on the market, and there is a chance they could even be a seller with a veteran such as Luol Deng," Deveney noted.
Most pundits believe that this is the best move for the Lakers-to keep their young assets and let them develop their potential. Deveney mentioned that scouts are raving over three Lakers' talents. Quoting an anonymous Western Conference scout:
"If you made a list of the 20 best players who are 22 or under, I think you'd have to have all three of the Lakers' young guys on there. They're three of the best young guys in the league. There's really not a lot of teams can say that, and I think a lot of mediocre teams would like to swap rosters with the Lakers right now."
The three players mentioned are D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram.
One team that would consider to trade rosters with the up and coming Lakers could be the Miami Heat. According to Zach Lowe in his podcast (transcript from 24/7 Sports), Pat Riley wants a complete reset.
"Up and down the roster, literally every player," Lowe said. "Literally no one is untouchable, not even Hassan Whiteside, by a long shot."
Whiteside is also a defensive juggernaut that's way ahead of Noel. He would not be cheap, but he is exactly what the Lakers need. However, it would mean the Lakers would have to swap possibly two of the three young players mentioned.
In a hypothetical scenario, the Lakers could send Julius Randle and possibly D'Angelo Russell (assuming Goran Dragic would be traded), draft picks and fillers for Whiteside, the Lakers could still field a roster with Whiteside, Ingram, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance, Jr and the resurgent Nick Young with Lou Williams off the bench.
For the Heat, they would fail to get another lottery pick but they still have their own. Trading Whiteside would push them to the bottom, possibly a top 5 pick. Pairing that with Randle, Russell and Justise Winslow if they choose to keep him would give the Heat their own young core.
These are all possibilities at this point, but Whiteside is the type of player that the Lakers are looking for, much better than Nerlens Noel.
