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The Los Angeles Lakers have long been linked to the best players on rebuilding teams. The Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors are all seen as viable trade partners.

Amid their current 4-8 stretch, the Lakers are desperate to get a deal done. All signs point to them improving on the margins instead of adding a superstar, although returning to old reports could hint at their future moves.

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Dating back to last season (and even longer!), the Lakers have been linked to the rebuilding Utah Jazz. Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and Jordan Clarkson have all been mentioned as possible Lakers trade targets, but Collin Sexton, who was picked eighth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, is likely the best fit, and is on their radar.

“Other names that have come up in talks with team and league personnel over the past few weeks include Utah’s Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton,” wrote The Athletic’s Jovan Buha on Tuesday.

The Jazz’s front office is run by Danny Ainge, who is legendary for his time playing with and managing the Boston Celtics. He does not seem eager to help the Lakers and their title quest, but for the right price, everyone on his roster is up for grabs.

The Lakers could offer D’Angelo Russell’s expiring contract as well as however many draft picks Ainge demands. It might seem like an unexpected move given the bad blood between Ainge and the Lakers, but fans have been told to expect the unexpected.

“The Lakers have a recent history of covertly navigating the trade market,” Buha continued. “It can’t be ruled out they make a trade for a player and/or with a team that no one sees coming.”

Sexton is averaging 16.3 points this season on 42% shooting from deep to go along with 3.1 assists. He is a clear upgrade on defense, and a backcourt of him and Austin Reaves could provide enough support to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

“Terry Rozier is a high-energy scorer who could inject some life into the Lakers’ offense after not reaching the heights expected of him with the Miami Heat so far,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Tuesday.

“Averaging 11.8 points and 3.0 assists per game this season, Rozier has proven he can be a reliable playmaker and shot-creator.”

“His fearlessness in crunch time would give the Lakers another option in close games, especially when LeBron needs to defer. Rozier’s experience as a lead guard makes him a valuable target for a team aiming to contend.”

“For the Miami Heat, this trade helps them pivot toward a younger direction, especially with Jimmy Butler on the trade market.”

“D’Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent would provide short-term stability, while the 2027 second-round pick adds a small but valuable piece to their rebuilding effort. Rozier’s contract is sizable, so moving him could provide Charlotte with financial flexibility as they continue to build around LaMelo Ball.”

“Rozier isn’t a superstar, but his toughness and scoring ability make him an ideal mid-tier target for the Lakers.”

“He’s the type of player who thrives under pressure and could help stabilize the team during the regular season grind. If the Lakers want to make a subtle yet impactful move, Rozier fits the bill.”

Rozier isn’t playing his best basketball in Year 9, but his track record suggests he’s a capable scorer with an extra pep in his step on the hardwood.

The Louisville product enjoyed a breakout 2018 postseason with the Celtics before receiving the boot in 2019, averaging 16.5 points and 5.7 assists on a Boston squad that fell one win short of an NBA finals appearance.

Rozier elevated his level of play with the Charlotte Hornets during the second stage of his career, pouring in at least 20 points per contest in three of his five seasons with the organization.

While things haven’t clicked yet for Rozier in South Beach, the Lakers may evaluate the former first-round pick’s overall resume and determine he’s the perfect fit for the franchise.

Time will tell if Los Angeles pursues Rozier between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

“Miami was unable to bring back 2023 standout guard Gabe Vincent following their most recent NBA Finals run,” All U Can Heat’s Daniel Riccio wrote Monday.

“Unfortunately for Vincent, he has not looked like a good fit for the LA Lakers. And they have reportedly been shopping him for a while now.”

“Getting Vincent back to Miami in a Rozier-centered deal would need another salary to make a deal work. Rui Hachimura could be a prime candidate, along with the Heat throwing in another player to offset the difference.”

“Vincent had his best years for the Heat, and the impact he brought could be a perfect two-way fit alongside the team’s improved core.”

Vincent began his NBA career with the Heat in 2019 and improved his scoring each season under Erik Spoelstra.

More impressively, the UC Santa Barbara product was a valuable contributor for Miami during their magical run to the 2023 finals, averaging 12.7 points per contest on respectable shooting splits and drilling big-time jumpers in pivotal moments.

Unfortunately, Vincent hasn’t replicated the same productivity in Los Angeles, netting less than five points, shooting under 40% from the field, and connecting on less than 30% of his triples in 37 games with the Lakers.

The sixth-year pro is unplayable in Los Angeles, making it logical for the Lakers to trade him to the franchise that helped jumpstart his career.

Last night, Dec. 17, the Oklahoma City Thunder took on the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup championship game. Before the game, the Thunder were projected as heavy favorites to win the title game due to their tournament path and overall record.

That could not have been further from the truth.

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With a final score of 97-81, OKC played their worst game of the season on the national stage. Headed by the triple-double performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, there were a multitude of reasons why the Bucks manhandled the Thunder.

Major reasons why OKC fell to Bucks in NBA Cup title game

1. Inability to make threes
   The shooting performance by the OKC Thunder was absolutely abysmal. Exiting the first half, the Thunder only made one three pointer out of 17 total attempts. When the final buzzer sounded, they shot a horrendous 16% from beyond the arc (5/32).

In today’s NBA, with the three-point shot being such an influential part of the game, when a team is unable to knock down their threes, they are going to lose nine times out of ten. And with the Bucks shooting 43% from three in the title game (17/40), it is no wonder why the Thunder lost by early 20.

2. Fell short in the rebounding battle
   For quite some time, the Thunder have always had trouble in the rebounding department. Last season during the playoffs, rebounding was the major reason they lost in the semifinals. For the NBA Cup championship game, that issue arose yet again.

Other than Isaiah Hartenstein who corralled 12 boards, OKC was getting dominated on the glass. Giving up 52 total rebounds and nine offensive boards, the Thunder gave the Bucks numerous second-chance opportunities and allowed them to maintain control of the game. Compared to Oklahoma City’s 43 total rebounds and seven offensive boards, OKC stood almost no chance in this matchup.

3. Stars dimmed under the bright lights
   When OKC is able to win games, Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Jalen Williams typically have great performances. Unfortunately for this game, they were shells of their normal selves.

SGA ended the game with 21 points shooting 33% from the field (8/24) and 22% from three (2/9). For JDub, he finished with 18 points on 8/20 shooting from the field and 1/4 from beyond the arc.

Throughout the season, the two Thunder stars have been very consistent in their play and have shown they have the ability to get buckets against any opponent. When it came to Milwaukee, however, their championship experience proved to be too much for young stars and the rest of the OKC squad.

From numerous missed opportunities on both offense and defense to being unable to slow down Milwaukee’s momentum, if anything was proven in last night’s matchup, it is that OKC still has some growing to do and that they really need Chet Holmgren back for big-time games.

Now, OKC turns their focus back to regular season play as they head to Orlando tomorrow, Dec. 18, to take on the Magic.

The Raptors can’t seem to shake the injury bug during the 2024-25 season.

Due to several injuries to key players, Toronto has not yet been at full strength through its first 25 games. Star forward Scottie Barnes was back sidelined after suffering an ankle injury in his 10th game back from an orbital fracture.

What does Barnes’ latest injury setback mean for him and the Raptors? Here is more on his ankle injury and how much longer he’s expected to be out of Toronto’s lineup.

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What is Scottie Barnes’ injury?
Barnes’ injury is a sprained right ankle, the Raptors announced on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Barnes suffered the injury in the third quarter of Toronto’s loss to New York on Monday, Dec. 9. As Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns drove to the basket, Barnes attempted to block the shot, hurting his ankle by landing on Towns’ foot.

Barnes was in evident pain from the landing and remained down for an extended time after rolling his ankle. He exited the game and did not return.

Despite his bouts with injuries, Barnes is posting career-high across the board. Through 14 games, he is averaging 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.

The Raptors are 5-9 in games Barnes has played in and 2-11 when he does not suit up.

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How long is Scottie Barnes out?
Barnes was re-evaluated Wednesday and appears to be ahead of schedule in his progress. He has been listed as questionable for Thursday’s meeting with Brooklyn.

The time Barnes misses will ultimately depend on the severity of his ankle sprain and his response to rehab. The re-evaluation gave Toronto’s training staff a greater understanding of Barnes’ injury, allowing the team to provide a clearer injury timeline.

After their horrific loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup, it became quite evident that the Oklahoma City Thunder still have some room to grow and problems to fill.

Shooting a dreadful 16% from beyond the arc versus the Bucks, ranking 19th in the league in three-point percentage and 16th in rebounds per game, OKC should consider making a move for a player who can improve those glaring issues.

Proposed trade for Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Johnson
Last season, Oklahoma City was among the best in the league in shooting the three ball. However, whatever happened during the offseason and into this season, OKC has drastically fallen off in their three-point shooting.

Adding a player who is not only able to knock down those shots but can also grab boards and play defense would be extremely beneficial for the Thunder, and Cam Johnson may be the answer.

So far this season, Johnson is averaging 18.6 points per game to go along with 4.2 rebounds and three assists per game. As a 6’8″ wing, Johnson ranks 23rd in the NBA in three-point percentage (43%), which would lead the team if he were on the Thunder.

Right now, the Thunder have a ton of guard-like players fighting for playing time and lack the height needed to compete against talented tall teams. In this proposed trade, OKC would move on from two semi-underperforming role players and draft picks in order to secure the Nets’ forward:

Thunder receive: Cameron Johnson
Nets receive: Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, 2025 first round pick (via PHI) and 2025 first round pick (via MIA)
During this season, Wiggins is averaging 8.8 points per game on 39% three-point shooting and Joe is putting up 8.9 points per game on 38% three-point shooting. Not only would OKC open up more playing time for other guards, but they would add elite scoring and height that they desperately need.

For the Nets, they would get two great role players who have the ability to get hot in games while also obtaining a valuable Sixers pick.

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However, due to how large Johnson’s contract is (4 years, $94.5 million) and the inevitable payday for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, it would be hard to make the money work. But if anyone can get a trade done, it is Thunder GM Sam Presti.