Lakers News: West Play-In Rival Almost Traded For 2 LA Starters At Deadline

Thank goodness the Lakers got 'em instead!

Your Los Angeles Lakers nearly lost out on adding two current starters at the trade deadline. According to ESPN's Zach Lowe in a new edition of his podcast The Lowe Post, starting LA shooting guard Malik Beasley and starting Lakers power forward Jarred Vanderbilt almost landed with the New Orleans Pelicans.

“The Pelicans were close to getting Beasley and Vanderbilt from Utah at the trade deadline, or close-ish," Lowe revealed. "They had a pretty good offer on the table, it was a draft equity-based offer with a pick that maybe was not as good as the Lakers pick that they ended up trading, but pretty close from what I’ve heard." 

"But one of the issues was maybe the picks weren’t exactly equivalent, but the other issue was [Mike] Conley, and the Jazz’s determination to get off of Conley, and could the Pelicans figure that out somehow and it became a little complicated," Lowe explained. "But that trade ends up helping the Lakers, helping the Wolves, and the Pelicans don’t get involved in it and now they’re falling apart.”

Beasley has been a massive offensive help for LA. As one of the highest-volume three-point shooters in the NBA, the 6'4" vet's floor spacing has proven invaluable to the club. His defense on the perimeter has been competent. No offense to Lonnie Walker IV, now out of the Lakers' rotation entirely, but Beasley is just an all-around better player at this juncture.

Vanderbilt, an excellent, versatile defender and rebounder, is on a steal of a deal, earning $4.4 million this season.

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