Bradley Beal Link again as a Lakers trade target

The Los Angeles Lakers have a tough road ahead. They’ve been playing better lately, but it will definitely be a challenge without Anthony Davis in the lineup. The injury-prone NBA star will be sidelined for at least a month with a foot injury.

Davis has played at the MVP level so far this season, averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.1 blocks in 33.4 minutes per game. Replacing that level of production will take an all-out team effort as no player is capable of providing what Davis is doing to the team.

There will be a lot of pressure on LeBron James and Russell Westbrook to carry the team in his absence. That’s certainly asking a lot of them, so could this be the time we see Los Angeles seriously looking at a transaction?

Most of the negotiations to date have involved Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, and a protected future first-round pick. Not surprisingly, that package didn’t get too much attention as the Detroit Pistons turned it down in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

The Lakers have so far been hesitant to put their best assets on the table. Their first round picks of 2027 and 2029 are the only real trading chips Rob Pelinka has to play with, so the perfect deal must materialize before they can consider parting ways with them.

What would be considered the perfect deal? Rumors are swirling that Los Angeles could use those picks and Russell Westbrook to strike a deal with the Chicago Bulls, who face a possible rebuild, in exchange for DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic or Zach LaVine.

Another player to keep an eye on on is Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards. Washington isn’t going anywhere anytime soon as they rode a 10-game losing streak for Tuesday’s 113-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Reportedly, Beal would like to come to California and the Lakers could offer him that opportunity.

Bringing in a third star is certainly a gamble for the Lakers, who don’t have the assets to make a competitive bid. But the Wizards pushed themselves into a corner with the supermax deal they agreed to with Beal, as it also includes a full no-trade clause, essentially giving him all the power if he wants to be traded.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

If Beal says the Lakers are where he wants to be, chances are he’ll end up there eventually. He can’t be traded until January 15, so the Lakers would have to wait a few weeks. But adding a player of his caliber would provide the kind of boost the team so desperately needs.