NBA Rumors: Lakers Targeting Eric Gordon

The Los Angeles Lakers have been embroiled in trade talks all season due to their lack of chemistry, injuries, and overall subpar performance.  The former Western Conference juggernauts are just 22-23, good for 8th place in the West - a far cry from the title aspirations this team had coming into this season.  While many trade rumors have been focused on All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, Bleacher Report's Eric Pinchus says that Westbrook's contract is "all but unmoveable", leaving the Lakers to look elsewhere if they plan on shaking up their roster ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline on February 10th.

If the Lakers are stuck with Westbrook, that leaves them to look at how to better incorporate the hot-and-cold guard, rather than how to include him in a trade package.  Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony are their two best bench players and aren't going anywhere as a result.  Similarly, starter Avery Bradley is basically untouchable as his combination of outside shooting and defence is unmatched on the team.  The Lakers are hoping that point guard Kendrick Nunn will make his first appearance this season before the deadline to boost his trade stock, as the Lakers have given up on him returning to form this season after a lingering knee injury has kept him out of the lineup.

A likely target of the Lakers is Houston Rockets shooting guard Eric Gordon, who could fit in the starting lineup alongside the Lakers "Big 3" of LeBron, Westbrook, and Anthony Davis once he gets healthy, moving Avery Bradley to the bench.  Or they could easily bring Eric Gordon off the bench, as the 33-year-old has proven to be proficient in both a starting or reserve role, even winning 6th Man of the Year in 2017.  Furthermore, the contracts of Nunn and Talen Horton-Tucker are all it would take to execute a trade between the two Western Conference teams and Horton-Tucker is considered available after the 3rd-year guard's development stagnated this season. If the Lakers sweeten the pot by throwing in a future draft pick and the Rockets are interested in taking a moderate chance on Talen and the two years left on his contract, this deal could happen sooner than later. 

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