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Rob Pelinka suggests Lakers are not done in the trade market after Hachimura deal
Joe Lyons is a sports writer and basketball expert for Basketball Insiders. Joe has a keen eye for the betting markets within the NBA and a great passion for the game of basketball. also been published by Nottingham Forest FC, working with the academy and senior teams to produce content on matchdays. He formerly covered the Premier League and EFL as an on-site reporter during the 2020/21 season for Prost International. He is an expert in a range of other sports including soccer, horse racing darts and American football. Joe specialises in long form SEO content alongside news, tips and betting.
All posts by Joe LyonsUpdated25 Jan 2023
Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has hinted the team will make more trades before the February deadline after acquiring Rui Hachimura.
On Monday, it was reported that the Lakers had agreed a trade with the Washington Wizards for unsettled forward Rui Hachimura in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.
In his final game for Washington, the 24-year-old scored a season-high 30 points off the bench on 13/22 shooting from the floor and 3/5 from outside the arc.
Before Tuesday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Pelinka said the Hachimura trade was “an opportunity to strike early” across a quiet trade market so far.
“It doesn’t mean our work is finished.”
Rob Pelinka said every trade LAL evaluates involving the 2027 and 2029 1st round picks has to make them feel like it will propel them towards a championship and “there is no in between.” If nothing presents itself with that type of upside between now and Feb. 9, they’ll wait
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 25, 2023
Lakers to act with caution regarding potential trade of 2027 and 2029 first-round picks
There has been immense pressure across the Lakers organization, including from franchise star LeBron James to act fast and bolster the roster by trading future first-round picks from 2027 and 2029.
For the last few months, rumors of a deal with the Indiana Pacers that would see Myles Turner and Buddy Hield head to LA in exchange for Russell Westbrook and two first-round picks have circulated.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is reportedly encouraged by Westbrook’s improvement since coming off the bench, who is now the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year according to NBA betting sites.
The team face another uphill battle to reach the playoffs this season and currently sit 13th in the Western Conference, 1.5 games back of a play-in spot.
In an interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick regarding the front office’s reluctance to trade the first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, LeBron said:
“Y’all know what the f–k should be happening. I don’t need to talk.”
The deadline is just 15 days away and the trade market will presumably begin to heat up in the final week as teams look to finalize their rosters for the rest of the season.
