Lakers Rumors: LA Considering Veteran East Forwards As Trade Targets

Would either player help the Lakers?

We've heard Zach LaVine and Dejounte Murray be rumored as potential trade targets for the Los Angeles Lakers. 

To get either one of these players, Austin Reaves might have to be involved. This is a player LA would be hesitant to relinquish in any deal. Max Christie may be on the table, as could one of the Lakers' first-round picks in a rather shallow chest of assets. 

One could even see Rui Hachimura and/or D'Angelo Russell moved to match salaries. 

While it's fun to envision a big name joining this roster, might it make more sense to go for a smaller asset?

In a new appearance on Jason Timpf's Hoops Tonight podcast, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that the Lakers have reportedly had interest in wings Royce O'Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith for multiple years. Both happen to currently play for the Brooklyn Nets. The clip speaking about both players begins below at the 34:23 mark. 

On the surface, both make a ton of sense for the Lakers as presently constituted. There's always a premium for experienced wing defenders with the ability to shoot the basketball.

O'Neale is a tough, rugged wing defender with the ability to essentially compete by locking up shooting guards, small forwards, and on occasion power forwards. He's shooting a blistering 38.8 percent from three-point range so far this year. O'Neale has appeared on six playoff teams. As such, he's the type of player the team can plug and play when the games mean most.

Finney-Smith played a good chunk of his career with the Dallas Mavericks before moving over to the Brooklyn Nets. Thus far, he's been lights-out from three -- connecting on 44.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. 

At 6'7", he can also guard multiple positions on the floor. There's a savvy to his game, and Finney-Smith is one of those guys who's quite workmanlike in his approach. 

It's unknown as to what it will take for the Lakers to procure either one of these players. A first-round pick likely has to be on the table. Regardless, it appears as if the activity in the trade market is starting to gain some steam.