Before the Los Angeles Lakers played host to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night, the team made a move to bring in another player. The Lakers were able to acquire Tarik Black off waivers helping bolster the frontcourt and as a result, waived Xavier Henry to make room.
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With Black adding to a frontcourt with Jordan Hill, Ed Davis and Robert Sacre, the rumors are starting to circulate about the Lakers potentially making the move in order to make a trade. According to Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers could look to move one of their frontcourt players:
The Charlotte Hornets were said to be interested in Black, but by virtue of having a worse record the Lakers were able to claim the big man first. However, he doesn’t necessarily play a position of need for the Lakers, which creates suspicion about what could be next. The Lakers had to waive Xavier Henry, who was out for the year with a ruptured Achilles, to create a spot for Black – but already have a crowded center position with Jordan Hill, Ed Davis and Robert Sacre.
With center Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers going down for the season, they have a major void in the frontcourt and are expected to make a move to address the absence of Varejao. Sacre was mentioned as an option for the Cavaliers in a trade rumor over the summer, but it remains to be seen if they show interest following the injury to Varejao.
The most recent trade rumor involving the Lakers was the team going after Rajon Rondo. The Lakers were unwilling to include rookie Julius Randle in a deal for Rondo, but will pursue the star point guard in free agency this summer.
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