The Los Angeles Lakers' dynamics in the trade market have attracted a lot of attention, with recent news that they may be buying the dip, targeting Charlotte Hornets center Nick ·Richards. According to ClutchPoints' Brett · Siegel, the Lakers have expressed trade interest in the 26-year-old center and are one of several NBA teams asking Richards.
The news coincided with ESPN's Shams Charania mentioning last week that the Lakers are considering upgrading the center position. Richards is seven feet tall and is known for his underrated defense and rebounding. Last season, he averaged 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game with the Hornets, showing his strength on the inside. In addition, with a 7-foot-4 inch reach, Richards can effectively block opponents' shots on the defensive end, becoming an important defensive gate for the team.
What's even more appealing to the Lakers is that Richards has a contract of only $5 million this season and $5 million next season. This gives the Lakers some flexibility in terms of salary space and can bring in reinforcements without compromising the overall roster. Considering Jaxson · Hayes' limitations at center and the absence of Jarred · Vanderbilt and Christian · Wood due to injury, the Lakers' need for center is increasingly urgent.
The addition of Richards would not only bolster the Lakers' interior prowess, but could also be a more cost-effective option than the other centers they have their eye on at the position. The Lakers are in dire need of finding the right players to fill the roster ahead of the start of the new season, and Richards' ability and contract conditions make him an ideal target.
In the NBA trade market, the Lakers' strategy seems to be to look for underrated players in order to maintain salary flexibility while enhancing the team's overall competitiveness. As the new season approaches, the Lakers' trade dynamics will be under scrutiny, and it will be interesting to see if Nick · Richards can be their new additions.