With the Los Angeles Lakers 3-18 to start the 2015-16 NBA season, head coach Byron Scott decided to make a starting lineup change prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors.
Despite Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell playing well, Scott inserted Larry Nance Jr. and Lou Williams. However, the results remained the same as the Lakers fell to the Raptors as they continue their road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With the Lakers facing the Timberwolves, Darren Wolfson of KSTP TV reports Los Angeles are one of two teams interested in trading for Shabazz Muhammad:
By the way, heard the Nets and Lakers are two of the teams that like Shabazz. He has fans. But Milt is not moving him anytime soon. #twolves
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) December 9, 2015
While the Timberwolves have a lot of depth at the small forward position, they are currently not interested in trading their 14th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. So far this season, Muhammad’s minutes have dropped with the signing of Tayshaun Prince, but he is averaging 8.0 points and 2.6 rebounds.
With Kobe Bryant and Metta World Peace in the final stages of their career, the Lakers are looking to improve their depth at small forward. While Anthony Brown was selected with their second round pick in this year’s draft, he is not part of Scott’s rotation, but has played with the team’s D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
If the Lakers continue to struggle, it will be interesting to see if any changes are made. Although the Lakers will not make the playoffs for the third consecutive season, this year’s pick is only top-three protected as a result of the Steve Nash trade. Even if they finish with the worst record in the NBA, the Lakers will only have a 64.3 percent of keeping their pick.
