The NBA trade deadline is drawing near. Only a few days remain for teams around the league to make deals to bolster their roster for a playoff run, acquire the missing piece to the championship puzzle or simply move players for drafts picks. The Los Angeles Lakers could be an active participant in deals leading up to the deadline on Feb. 23 with Lou Williams the player most likely sent elsewhere.
There’s been a lot of speculation over the last few weeks that playoff teams and title contenders could reach out to the Lakers brass with interest in Williams’ services. The most recent team rumored to be interested in the veteran guard is the Washington Wizards, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical transcription via Bullets Forever:
“They got to improve their bench. They feel that if there’s a wing player that they can get out in the trade market, Lou Williams with the Lakers they have interest in, Bojan Bogdanovic with the Nets. Washington has shown the inclination to give up a future draft pick, potentially even in this draft to get a veteran who may even turn out to be a rental for them.”
With Williams still playing at a high level for the Lakers and only due $7 million in the final year of his contract next season, he’s definitely an attractive trade piece for team’s looking to make run in the postseason. The Wizards making a move for the 30-year-old makes a lot of sense with John Wall and company trying to compete with the likes of the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers as they sit in the third seed in the Eastern Conference right now.
As for the Lakers, moving Williams for a draft pick is likely their ideal situation heading toward the deadline. Williams may be leading the team in scoring while being arguably their most consistent player this season, but the rebuild continues and adding a draft pick in exchange may be the smart way to go.
