For one, they are far from contenders and won’t be mortgaging the long-term future to land a complementary piece such as Arron Afflalo. They also don’t really have many desirable pieces that short-term buyers will look to pry away from them in a swap either.
That just leaves this team in something of a purgatory as the rest of the league is surrounded by craziness.
Still, this is the Lakers we are talking about, so they are naturally involved in one serious rumor with Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic. There is next year and beyond to think about, and he could theoretically help the purple and gold return to prominence in the near future.
With that in mind, here is the latest buzz from Los Angeles before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Goran Dragic
Marc Stein of ESPN.com passed along an update on Dragic:
The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are among many teams expected to try to persuade the Phoenix Suns to part with star guard Goran Dragic before Thursday's NBA trade deadline, according to league sources.
The Lakers, meanwhile, also have coveted Dragic for some time and likewise are said to be intent on testing the Suns' resolve when it comes to their Slovenian point guard. Sources say L.A. plans to chase Dragic this summer anyway with an aggressive four-year offer that would be valued as high as an estimated $80 million if it approaches max-contract territory.
There is a lot at play any time Dragic’s name is brought up in a rumor. On the one hand, the Suns are still very much alive in the Western Conference playoff race, and giving up their guard, who was All-NBA third team and the league’s Most Improved Player a season ago, would be detrimental to th...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
