Lakers ‘covet’ $251m solution to early woes; Giddey teammate’s shock OKC backflip: Rumour Mill
The Los Angeles Lakers have set their sights on a 10-year veteran, whereas Josh Giddey may need to quickly wave goodbye to considered one of his key working mates on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Catch up on the entire whispers doing the rounds within the newest version of the NBA Rumour Mill!
Watch a mean of 9 LIVE NBA Regular Season video games per week on ESPN on Kayo Sports on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Nets title Jacque Vaughn as head coach | 01:45
MORE COVERAGE
‘Holy s**t’: Giddey’s two freakish no-look moments ship basketball world into meltdown
Last Dance feud renewed as NBA nice unloads on ‘a**hole’ Jordan
NBA Wrap: Simmons’ greatest Nets recreation; ‘all-timer’ error as Giddey almost stuns Bucks
LAKERS FIND $251M SOLUTION TO HORROR START?
There’s nonetheless a protracted, lengthy technique to go this NBA season, however the Lakers are already on the again foot having gathered a measly two wins from their opening 11 video games.
It’s not the beginning that 38-year-old celebrity LeBron James, in his final season with the franchise, envisioned.
So, how do the Lakers give James what he desires earlier than the season is actually over earlier than it even started?
A commerce, after all!
But who would possibly the Lakers go after?
Well, in line with a Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, Los Angeles could possibly be chasing a star that’s been across the league for a decade, however nonetheless has loads of high quality left in him.
“A star player whom the Lakers are known to covet is Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal,” Haynes wrote.
“Going after the 10-year veteran would only be an option if Beal were to request a trade, a tactic he has been reluctant to exercise.”
It’s not the primary time the Lakers have been linked with transferring for Beal.
As just lately as this low season, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor claimed the Lakers needed to ship Russell Westbrook and two picks to the Wizards in return for Beal.
The 29-year-old inked a $AUD379 million supermax extension with Washington in July, however within the high-quality print of the deal is a no-trade clause, making him the one participant within the NBA to have one.
It signifies that if Beal desires out of the Wizards, he should request it himself, but it surely additionally means he can choose and select the place he goes.
The query now turns into: would Beal need to go to the Lakers?
Lakers ought to hold Russ and commerce AD? | 01:14
THUNDER STAR HEADED FOR EXIT AFTER GROWING ‘FRUSTRATED WITH LOSING’?
In late September this yr, Oklahoma City Thunder younger gun Shai Gilgeous-Alexander instructed The Athletic that he felt the crew is “headed in the right direction” regardless of the losses persevering with to pile up.
There’s not many higher methods to showcase that perception than signing a five-year, $260 million extension, however that’s precisely what the 24-year-old did in August final yr.
“Obviously we have lost more than we’d like to the last couple of years, and it’s not fun,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned.
“With that being said though, I know what I signed up for, and I signed a five-year extension.
“And I don’t think we’re gonna be losing for much longer, so it’s not like I signed up to lose or anything.
“I believe in this team. I believe in the players we have on this team. I think we’re headed in the right direction, and we’ll be where we want to be soon.”
However, that positivity is reportedly dwindling quick.
With a document of 4-7 this season and 4 defeats on the spin, Gilgeous-Alexander is beginning to develop pissed off and a latest NBA championship-winning crew could possibly be able to pounce.
“You keep hearing that Shai is frustrated with the losing, and so I think that’s the Toronto thing that we’ve all heard about with their interest in Shai this summer,” an nameless front-office govt instructed The Athletic.
“But how far do (the Thunder) want to push this (tanking effort)?”
It’s an unlucky scenario given the Thunder’s first-round draft choose, Chet Holmgren was meant to show the crew’s fortunes round however went down with a season-ending foot damage earlier than the 22/23 marketing campaign had tipped off.
