NBA trade news: Kings' Rudy Gay, Ben McLemore possible targets for Lakers before trade deadline

The Los Angeles Lakers are in no position to make the playoffs this year, but the storied franchise could still strike deals before the trade deadline as part of the team’s rebuilding efforts.

The Lakers, who currently have the worst record in the Western Conference with nine wins and 34 losses, is expected to miss the postseason for a second straight year. But this does not mean Los Angeles will not engage in trade talks in the 2015-2016 NBA regular season.

David Murphy of Bleacher Report listed down potential trade targets for the Lakers before the deadline, which includes Sacramento Kings forwards Rudy Gay and Ben McLemore. According to Murphy, this is one potential trade the Lakers should pursue for their “continuing rebuild.”

With Kobe Bryant retiring at the end of the season and the NBA’s new massive TV deal set to kick in this year, the Lakers will have plenty of cap-room to sign a max contract player who could help bring back the team’s glorious days. Getting Gay and McLemore, according to Murphy, would allow the Lakers to get a jump on next summer, while still preserving flexibility to retain key players and sign top free agents.

In Murphy’s trade scenario, the Lakers would send Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams, and Larry Nance Jr for Gay, McLemore, and Kings backup centre Kosta Koufos. Murphy also cited Bleacher Report’s Joel Cordes weighing on the Lakers possibly sending their summer acquisitions for the high-flying tandem of Gay and McLemore.

“Sacto would be gearing up for their playoff push and giving up on McLemore, but he’s exactly the type of prospect the Lakers should be looking at right now rather than giving too many minutes to veterans,” Murphy wrote. “Meanwhile, Gay is the type of free agent L.A. would probably have to sign in the offseason anyway, and he’s a more complete player than Young or Williams.”

Gay has also been linked to trade rumours last week with the New Orleans Pelicans. Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Kings and the Pels have discussed a trade that would send Gay to New Orleans, possibly for Ryan Anderson.

On the other hand, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has insisted the team is not looking to move any of their core of young players, according to SB Nation. But Los Angeles could be forced to move Nance, one of their young talents, for an enticing piece, along with Roy Hibbert, who is looking for a playoff team, reports Steve Kyler for Basketball Insiders.

“Most of the teams that would have interest in our players would have interest in our young players and we covet our young players pretty highly right now,” Kupchak said. “So it would be tough for us to move a young player."

The trade scenario succeeds well in ESPN’s trade machine, although the Lakers would probably try to include other expiring contracts like Nick Young’s to gain full control come free agency.