The Los Angeles Lakers would have trade interest in Brooklyn Nets forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale if they were made available, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
The Lakers need more shooters and defenders and Finney-Smith and O’Neale both fit that bill.
“Maybe you can’t get [Alex] Caruso and you go for Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith,” Buha said on Hoops Tonight with Jason Timpf. “And Royce O’Neale obviously isn’t the caliber of player that Alex Caruso is, but to me, it would still be an overall upgrade to the rotation if you could bring both of those guys in. Those are two guys the Lakers have had interest in dating back to last offseason and even last trade deadline, so I know that those are two guys they would have interest in bringing in.”
It’s unknown if the Nets are going to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. The Lakers will be buyers since they have LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O’Neale, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Finney-Smith is averaging 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists this season while shooting 47.0% from the field, 44.8% from beyond the arc and 80.0% from the free-throw line.
O’Neale, meanwhile, is averaging 7.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 38.9% from the field, 39.2% from beyond the arc and 62.5% from the free-throw line.
The Lakers are 16-15 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. D’Angelo Russell, who played for the Nets before, is widely expected to be traded by Los Angeles.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O’Neale, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, speed and athleticism are priorities for the Lakers at the trade deadline. It will be intriguing to see if Los Angeles general manager Rob Pelinka can acquire Finney-Smith and/or O’Neale.
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