Lakers linked to no less than seven players ahead of trade deadline

Another regular season for the Los Angeles Lakers is turning out to be nothing special. They once again hope to change all that before the playoffs.

Per Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers are eyeing at least seven players ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, and possibly more.

Buha linked the Lakers to Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, Toronto Raptors wings Bruce Brown and Gary Trent Jr., Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier, and Brooklyn Nets small forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale.

Some of these players are known to be available — especially Murray, Brown and the Nets’ wings.

The Lakers are prepared to trade guard D’Angelo Russell and forward Jalen Hood-Schifino, as well as draft picks, to the Hawks for Murray.

“I’d be insulted if I were Murray and that is all the Hawks could get for me,” one NBA scout jokingly told Hoops Wire.

Meanwhile, the Raptors are expected to trade Brown after he was acquired from the Indiana Pacers in the deal involving forward Pascal Siakam. The Lakers have been interested in Trent for some time, and perhaps there is a deal out there that would enable them to land both Brown and Trent.

As for Rozier … the Hornets are expected to make everyone available except point guard LaMelo Ball, rookie forward Brandon Miller and center Mark Williams. Rozier has also been linked to the Nets, and one league source told Hoops Wire that the San Antonio Spurs have an interest.

Speaking of the Nets, they are expected to be buyers at the trade deadline, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN. They are seeking two first-rounders for Finney-Smith, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Finally, as we relayed here, the Blazers aren’t likely to trade Grant, who has expressed a desire to stay with Portland. They could, however, be open to move guard Malcolm Brogdon.

The Lakers (21-22) enter Sunday night in 10th place in the Western Conference. They’re just 7-13 since winning the In-Season Tournament.