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Lakers Rumors: LA Linked to All-Star Point Guard Ahead of Trade Deadline

A championship pedigree may be what the Lakers need manning the position.

Ryan Menzie

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There's no question that Russell Westbrook coming off the bench has been a game changer for the Lakers. The contract on the other hand is something to peel eyes away so perhaps the Lakers may look at a cheaper option with Fred VanVleet. 

The Raptors point guard got paid a four year $85 million contract after helping the team earn their first NBA championship in franchise history. VanVleet is now on the final year of his contract and it is believed he will not exercise his team option. 

The 29 year old point guard provides a scoring option at the point guard position (19.1 points per game) while also having a knack to dish out assists (6.3 per game). It's an option the Lakers may choose to explore but draft capital will have to be involved with many others keeping an eye on VanVleet (via Bleacher Report).

Either the Raptors and VanVleet will extend their marriage, or the team will look to get value for him in a trade before the deadline. If it's the latter, several playoff contenders (at least teams that consider themselves playoff contenders) would have interest, such as the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards. So, too, would the Orlando Magic, per multiple NBA sources.

If the Lakers part ways with draft picks then of course they'd also have to pay him to a hefty contract. This will be another win-now move for the Lakers especially with LeBron James' career with the team in question, but will this be enough to propel them over the top? 

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Ryan Menzie
RYAN MENZIE

Ryan Menzie | Lead Contributor Ryan is an LA Native who has grown up praising the greatest athletes LA has had to offer. A love for sports ranging between basketball, football, volleyball and golf, a future Sports Management Masters graduate, and being engulfed into organized sports since seven years old, the passion and love for sports never ends for Ryan. If the words he writes don't paint the full picture of his true fandom, he will find more ways than one to tell the story and be more than willing to open up a nice LA sports debate with you. Favorite Player: Kobe Bryant  Favorite Moment: Kobe Bryant Final Game. Too many moments to choose from between Derek Fishers 0.4 second buzzer beater, the Lakers 3-peat or game seven against Boston, but can't beat a final memory like Kobe's final game. 

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