According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Los Angeles Lakers have checked into the availability of Detroit Pistons players Brandon Jennings and Greg Monroe.
The Lakers rumor mill is never an empty one. Especially when the team is 12-27 on the season. They’ve been scouring the NBA landscape for quick improvements for a team that’s underperforming to expectations, but performing appropriately to their reality. As the Feb. 19 trade deadline approaches, this will be one of the many rumors coming from the Lakers camp.
An indication of how many areas they need to improve.
Shelburne claims that the Lakers have made inquiries into the availability of recently traded Dion Waiters as well.
As for Lakers, they have been very active since 12/15. Made calls on Waiters, Jennings, Monroe. Asst GM Glen Carraro is working the phones.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 12, 2015
On the other hand, since the Pistons traded forward Josh Smith, they’re 8-2 in their last 10 games and on the fast track to the eighth seed. It’s unlikely they make a move while they’re experiencing this string of strong play.
That makes any package the Lakers throw at Detroit a no-go. Stan Van Gundy won’t want to break up a group that’s playing efficient basketball after starting 5-23. Although Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy has made it clear that and the Lakers don’t have any assets to convince them otherwise. Van Gundy hinted to the Detroit Free Press that he’s all ears for more deals that will improve the Pistons.
“Look, we’re not where we want to eventually be,” Van Gundy said. “I love the way we’re playing now and, hopefully, the rest of the year will go very well, but we’re not gonna rest on that until we’re in contention.”
The assets the Lakers have, won’t be of much interest to the Pistons either, certainly nothing that will convince Van Gundy of being closer to contention.
If there’s any bit of optimism to be had with regards to the Pistons possibly moving Jennings, it’s due to the bumping of heads between Van Gundy and Jennings earlier in the season. What’s more likely is that this rumor’s based on older information when the Pistons were shopping Smith.
At that point, Van Gundy would’ve traded away every player with an exception to Andre Drummond if the move resulted in more wins.
That’s not to suggest the Pistons are done making moves for the rest of the season. They’re currently in a position to be a bit more choosy about the deals they make moving forward. If the Pistons decide to deal, it won’t be with the Lakers. Jordan Hill would be most attractive for the Pistons. However, it’s more likely they’ll want to get rid of Monroe before adding another big man.
Detroit would never trade Hill for Monroe straight up.
This rumor doesn’t have legs. If the Lakers acquire Jennings, Monroe or Waiters it will require a lucrative offer made in free agency (Jennings is signed to Detroit through next season, and Monroe/Waiters will be free agents). They simply don’t have the eye candy to entice a trade. Not with the Pistons or many other teams in the league for that matter.
For now the Lakers will have to settle for the team that’s currently on the floor. There are ways to improve, but there’s no overnight fix.