The NBA trade deadline is less than a month away, and we already witnessed the first domino to fall in the form of All-Star guard Trae Young.
Young will stick in the Eastern Conference but head north to the nation’s capital as he is now a member of the Washington Wizards. The four-time All-Star now heads to his preferred destination, and that trade could be a sign of how much movement we could see in the coming weeks.
The deadline is always an exciting time for the league and fans, and at the forefront of it all is none other than the Los Angeles Lakers. For the past few seasons, LA has always been in the mix for a trade, and this season is no exception.
The Lakers are in desperate need of a trade as their defense is among the worst in the league. A defensive upgrade for LA is vital as they look to make a deep playoff run this season. The Lakers have been linked to a handful of defensive upgrades, including Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis.
The 25-year-old is on a bargain of a deal, earning $2.3 million this season, and is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season. While that is the case, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, the Kings are looking for a hefty return for Ellis.
Edwards noted how the Kings are reportedly seeking a first-round pick in return for Ellis.
“From a money standpoint, Ellis would be easy for the Knicks to take on. He’s only making $2.3 million this year. Ellis and Doug McDermott for Yabusele and some second-round picks would get it done on paper, but it takes two to tango. Yabusele has a player option for next season that Sacramento might not be interested in and I’ve heard the Kings are currently interested in a late first-round pick for Ellis, though that can change as the deadline inches closer.”
It may be tough to sell other teams on Ellis in return for a first-round pick, considering he has not played particularly well this season. Nonetheless, he is the type of player the Lakers could benefit from.
The former Alabama guard stands at 6-foot-4 and is a tenacious defender who plays with great energy night in and night out. He’s been in and out of the Kings’ rotation this season, so it appears that a trade is inevitable at this point. In the season, he is averaging 5.7 points per game, 1.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 35 games and 17.9 minutes of action.
Many expect the Lakers to make a significant move ahead of the deadline, but if Ellis commands that type of asking price, Los Angeles may look elsewhere. The Lakers are eager to upgrade their defense, but they are not willing to mortgage their future for a player they do not view as worthy of that level of investment.
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