Lakers News: How Unheralded Recent Playoff Rival Could Be Good Trade Target For LA
With the NBA Draft coming this week and free agency soon after, the Lakers have some work to do. They need to decide what route to go with building their roster and upgrading the team. One major need for the club is at the point guard position. Los Angeles has been linked to a few different names but there is one name that not many are talking about.
Matt Moore of Action Network mentioned a player for a recent playoff rival of LA that he believes will be moved this summer. If that is the case, the Lakers should be all over the trade block for him.
"Tobias Harris for the Sixers and Tyus Jones for the Grizzlies are two players I am confident will be on new teams by the end of the summer."
Tyus Jones of the Memphis Grizzlies could present some real opportunities for the Lakers if he is indeed available for trade. Jones has been one of the better backup guards in the league over the last few seasons and could be a major upgrade to the Lakers team. The Memphis backup point guard is only owed $14 million this season and is on an expiring deal. That could be intriguing to a team like LA.
Last season, Jones averaged 10.3 points and 5.2 assists per game for the Grizzlies. His shooting ability could help LA as well as he shot 37.1 percent from beyond the arch. Additionally, he brings a level of toughness to him that could benefit the Lakers, much like Dennis Schröder was. Maybe the Lakers could package pick #17 in the upcoming draft with a role player like Malik Beasley or Mo Bamba for Jones.
Now, I'm not sure why the Grizzlies would look to trade the 27-year-old, unless they believe that they won't be able to afford him after this contract ends. If that is the case, the Lakers could be in the same boat come next offseason.
But with the title window closing for LA with LeBron James on the roster, it does make sense to go all in this season. Getting Jones on the team would be a massive upgrade and would give the Lakers a stronger chance to win the title next season.
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