The NBA trade deadline is approaching fairly quickly as it was moved up a couple weeks so as not to conflict with the All-Star Game. The time and date to watch this year for activity is 12 p.m. PT on Thursday, Feb. 8.
The Los Angeles Clippers were first to make a major move, as they traded Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Avery Bradley in a six-player deal. Meanwhile, the rumor mill continues to buzz with DeAndre Jordan, Nikola Mirotic and George Hill among those mentioned in speculation.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, the likes of Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and Julius Randle mentioned in trade rumors. The team recently held a team meeting to discuss an array of topics, including the distraction players being shopped may have caused.
Speculation doesn’t figure to die down in the coming days, which Kyle Kuzma said the team can’t afford to be affected by. “We’ve just got to be professionals,” he said.
“We can be losing and everybody could still be thinking about the deadline. Or we could be winning and we are still thinking about the deadline. It’s all about what we can control as a team.
“We can’t control coaching-staff and front-office decisions. It’s all about what we do as a team and trying to do what’s best for us.”
Kuzma certainly has a point. Trade rumors can easily become an unnecessary distraction, as they tend to be on players’ minds. What’s important to remember, albeit is easier said than done, is it is out of their control.
Front offices make decisions as they see fit for the organization. Oftentimes, every player is discussed in hypothetical trade scenarios at some point.
So for the Lakers their focus needs to remain on the court, which is a message head coach Luke Walton has consistently preached.
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