The Los Angeles Lakers sent shockwaves around the NBA world late Saturday night when they completed a massive three-team trade, acquiring superstar point guard Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks and sending All-Star big man Anthony Davis to Dallas.
The trade, which happened late on Saturday night, came out of nowhere, shocking players from the league including LeBron James. While the Lakers lost their best post player in Davis, they now have one of the best point guards in the league, paired with James.
This is Los Angeles’s second trade before the NBA trade deadline. Towards the end of December, the Lakers acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Maxwell Lewis, D’Angelo Russell, and draft consideration.
Nonetheless, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka isn’t resting on his laurels. He’s still looking for ways to improve the roster before the Feb. 6 deadline.
Lakers Exploring Other Trade Options Ahead of Deadline
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Lakers and Sacramento Kings are doing their due diligence on a potential trade for Philadelphia 76ers veteran wing Caleb Martin.
Martin has been limited to 31 games this season because of injury.
The veteran forward has missed the Sixers’ last 11 games due to a right hip strain. After spending the previous three years with the Miami Heat, the 29-year-old signed a four-year, $35 million deal in free agency.
Martin is averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 30.4 minutes per game this season with the Sixers. The veteran wing is shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc.
The 29-year-old’s defense has been great in the first year with the Sixers, possessing a 117 DRtg (defensive rating). However, knowing that he can guard multiple spots on the floor and knock down a shot from beyond the arc, likely intrigues the Lakers.
That said, I don’t know if Martin is what Los Angeles needs, given they acquired Finney-Smith and now need a starting-caliber big man in the frontcourt. If the Lakers want to make a run this season, they cannot have Jaxson Hayes starting at center.
Los Angeles needs to put its attention on going after Jonas Valanciunas, Walker Kessler, or Jakob Poeltl.
