The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking to improve their current veteran-heavy roster as the February 18 trade deadline approaches. Rumors have emerged that shooting guard Lou Williams leads the cast of vets that the Lakers have placed on the trading block, which includes Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass, and Nick Young.
ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Hollywood squad are shopping four of their most experienced players, namely Williams, Hibbert, Bass, and Young, noting that "Hibbert possesses the only expiring contract in that quartet" and "Bass holds a $3.1 million player option for next season", which would make it difficult for the team to deal all four of them before the deadline.
Lakers Nation said that the 29-year-old Williams is perhaps "the most attractive trade piece the team has moving forward" while Bass may attract the interest of some teams, but "it may be difficult to move Hibbert and Young" at this stage of their careers.
Williams was acquired by the Lakers in July of last year to a three-year deal worth $21 million. In his 46 games for the Los Angeles franchise this season, he is averaging 15.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals, quite similar to his averages of 15.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last regular season in 80 games for the Toronto Raptors.
The Memphis, Tennessee native won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award in last season with the Raptors, and he is replicating that performance right now even if he is playing with the ball-dominant Kobe Bryant.
His consistency is reportedly what will make him highly attractive to the other NBA teams during this trading season.
Meanwhile, Fansided indicated that "even with an expiring contract, the Lakers are going to have a hard time finding a trade partner for Hibbert" as the 7-foot-2 behemoth has not played up to par so far this season.
Hibbert is currently averaging 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks as compared to his stat line of 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks with Indiana last season.
The two-time NBA All-Star is on the final year of his four-year $58.4 million contract signed with Indiana before the 2012-2013 season. He is set to earn $15.5 million this year with the Lakers before becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer.