The 3 realistic players that the Lakers are chasing to get stronger!

Still active in the market in view of their repeated poor performance, the Lakers must imperatively strengthen before the deadline. According to an insider, three names of players respected but not really consideredDemented like stars are in the crosshairs of the Angelinos.

The matches go by and the obvious materializes: the Lakers will have to make trades if they want to hope to be contenders once spring comes. The major headache for GM Rob Pelinka, however, is the composition of the wage bill, largely caught up in the huge contracts of LeBron James, Anthony Davis et Russell Westbrook.

Behind these mammoth deals (44 million for Brodie, 41 for the King and 35 for Unibrow), almost all of the roster is at least veteran, with the exception of Kendrick Nunn and Talen Horton-Tucker – which is very seriously complicating the possibilities of trade.

The Lakers continue to search, 3 players in the sights

In Los Angeles, we therefore know that transfers will most likely involve the inclusion of a third or even fourth team, and the front office is working hard to find opportunities. In recent days, we have learned that Ben Simmons and Jerami Grant are two stars that the Lakers are interested in. But well aware that they might have to fall back on at least flashy, the purples and golds are also digging upstairs below.

This is what journalist The Athletic John Hollinger, former member of the front offices in the NBA, explained:

Certainly the Lakers are making calls about wingers who can play without having the ball in their hands, like Portland’s Norman Powell, San Antonio’s Derrick White and Boston’s Marcus Smart. But it may well be that they have yet to lower their ambitions in the market.

Powell is probably the most seasoned name on this list as he is signing his 4th consecutive season over 18 points on average, all with very nice percentages. Smart is a respected 3-and-D in the NBA, while White has a good campaign with 14 units and 5 assists on average for the Texas side.

Where Lakers fans can worry is when reading that these three players are probably beyond their team’s reach, and we’ll have to settle for even less high-sounding names. Not necessarily the most reassuring for a roster that seems to need a hell of a kick in the anthill to reach the level of other contenders in the East …

In parallel with their race for star with Ben Simmons and Jerami Grant, the Lakers continue to explore less “glitter” avenues, but which could also prove useful. Case (s) to follow …