The Los Angeles Lakers at all times have excessive expectations as a franchise. After all, these expectations are amplified with LeBron James and Anthony Davis main the group. Since successful their final championship in 2020, the Lakers have had a number of lackluster seasons, in the end resulting in Darvin Ham being changed by JJ Redick this offseason and out of doors noise calling for Rob Pelinka and this entrance workplace to make trades in the course of the offseason. Finally, Los Angeles did not pull the set off on any commerce, however that does not imply they did not attempt to make strikes.
Throughout the offseason, the commerce market across the NBA is risky. Numerous calls are nonetheless made, whether or not or not there may be severe momentum towards a transaction in progress. The Lakers have expressed curiosity in a number of potential commerce targets over the summer time, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints. One of many gamers they expressed curiosity in was Nick Richards of the Charlotte Hornets.
Richards, a 2020 second-round decide, has spent his complete profession with the Hornets. Though he did not play a lot of a job in his first two years within the league, Richards has since grow to be a really intriguing participant on the heart place resulting from his rebounding and tenacity inside. Attributable to Charlotte having handled numerous frontcourt accidents through the years, Richards took on a a lot bigger function for them, as he performed in a career-high 67 video games and made 51 begins over the course of the 2023-24 season.
In March 2023, the Hornets prolonged the younger huge man to a three-year, $15 million extension, a contract that many groups across the league raised eyebrows at resulting from his manufacturing.
Hornets’ hesitation over Nick Richards commerce talks
The Hornets have let league members know they’re keen to listen to any affords offered to them and can assist facilitate trades. That is why the one means the New York Knicks lately acquired Karl-Anthony Cities in a blockbuster commerce was to make Charlotte a 3rd group to assist facilitate contracts and salaries. On the identical time, the Hornets aren’t simply making trades for the sake of constructing trades. Technique is concerned and Charlotte is making ready for long-term potential.
LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, based on sources, are the one two gamers the group does not wish to see depart anytime quickly. That mentioned, the Hornets are additionally working with the mindset that rapid progress can current itself after a disappointing 2023-24 marketing campaign by which they went 21-61. Charles Lee, contemporary off a championship with the Boston Celtics, is now the top coach of a younger, hungry group that many within the Japanese Convention overlook.
Whereas Lee is taking the group in a brand new route, filled with vitality and enthusiasm, Charlotte has been hesitant to make drastic modifications to the group this offseason. This is likely one of the driving elements why commerce talks involving Richards aren’t transferring ahead, together with the concept that the Hornets aren’t able to half methods with the secondary huge man resulting from his manufacturing and inconsistency of Mark Williams to remain on the sector. .
Lakers amongst group to ask about Nick Richards
As for the Lakers’ pursuit of Richards, no actual traction on a deal ever materialized from Charlotte’s perspective, sources mentioned. Los Angeles has been searching for a giant addition for the reason that commerce deadline in the course of the 2023-24 season and has additionally explored the potential for pursuing Atlanta Hawks heart Clint Capela in the course of the offseason. Capela, together with Dejounte Murray, have been two gamers the Lakers inquired about forward of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Just lately, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Los Angeles was looking for methods to enhance in central place resulting from Davis’ means to play alongside different huge males and Christian Wooden’s harm. After all, the query of who the Lakers might probably commerce for looms.
Robert Williams III is predicted to be a defensive heart who hits the buying and selling block between the beginning of the season and the commerce deadline in February, and Utah Jazz heart Walker Kessler has heard his identify come up numerous occasions in commerce rumors. Whereas the Jazz are rebuilding and never essentially offered on Kessler as the middle of their future, the 2024-25 season might see the 23-year-old being built-in right into a deal that features one in all Utah’s veterans like Jordan Clarkson or John Collins.
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Jonas Valanciunas, who signed with the Washington Wizards in free company after being signed to Los Angeles, might additionally grow to be a commerce goal for the Lakers earlier than the commerce deadline. Nonetheless, as a result of Valanciunas simply joined the Wizards in free company, he can’t be traded till December 15. Toronto Raptors huge man Kelly Olynyk is one other participant who has been linked to the Lakers previously. A number of months into the brand new season, across the time Valanciunas turns into out there in commerce talks, is across the time commerce rumors concerning Richards might begin to decide up once more.
As was the case with the Lakers, the Hornets by no means got here near buying and selling Richards this offseason, sources mentioned. Along with wanting to take care of her flexibility regardless of Williams’ harm, Charlotte appreciated the manufacturing and vitality Richards introduced. Amongst a handful of groups that expressed curiosity in Richards this offseason, together with the Lakers, the Knicks have been eyeing the Hornets heart lengthy earlier than something occurred with Cities, sources mentioned, as a alternative for ‘Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson within the frontcourt.
Whereas it is unclear in the event that they’ve ever expressed curiosity in Richards, numerous scouts who spoke with ClutchPoints thought-about the New Orleans Pelicans a really perfect touchdown spot ought to the Hornets categorical curiosity within the commerce of the large 26-year-old man. The Pelicans misplaced Valanciunas within the offseason and have a evident want on the heart place that Richards might remedy. The Phoenix Suns are additionally a group that has lengthy had curiosity in Richards.
Just like the Lakers, one other group that was this offseason in probably buying frontcourt assist was the Cleveland Cavaliers. Because of the harm points surrounding Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen final season, Cleveland explored the potential for probably including depth at heart, and a participant like Richards would make sense given his small contract and talent to play within the low put up. The Cavs by no means actually got down to negotiate a commerce with one other heart, as their foremost purpose was to succeed in new offers with Mobley, Allen, Donovan Mitchell and, in the end, Isaac Okoro.
Sooner or later, many across the league imagine the Lakers will add slightly extra depth alongside Davis within the frontcourt. It stays to be decided whether or not that participant can be Richards in a commerce with the Hornets.
