Lakers News: LA Considering Backcourt Help From Trade-Happy Non-Contender

The Lakers are looking to bring some impact players to town.

With the NBA trade deadline quickly approaching, your Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be one of the more active teams across the league. The front office knows that a change needs to be made to the roster, and they will do whatever they can to make it happen.

Los Angeles is looking to bring some impact players to town, and they've been looking all across the league for help. According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, it seems that Los Angeles is eyeing a familiar player that they've had their eyes on for years.

That would be guard Gary Trent Jr. from the Toronto Raptors, per Buha. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, and the Lakers covet his shooting skills to help them down the stretch. 

Trent Jr. has played in 38 games this season for the Raptors and is averaging 11.7 points per game. But he is shooting 41.5% from beyond the three-point line and would give the Lakers a true knock-down shooter.

Masai says in addition to internal growth and giving young players space to expand their games, they want to add more shooting.

"Definitely" could see more trades by Feb. 8. Highlights flexibility once again.

— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) January 18, 2024

While the Laker curse on shooters is real, even if Trent Jr. went down to shooting 37% from deep, it would help. The Lakers need someone like him to help take the load off the star players offensively. 

While Trent Jr. can be a streaky shooter, he would provide them with a solid option either starting or off the bench. If anything, it would give them more offensive power, which is something they've lacked all season.

The Lakers have been interested in Trent Jr. for a while now, but it remains to be seen if it comes to fruition. The asking price from Toronto is high, and the Lakers may not be able to make it work.