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2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
January 14, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert (17) during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Lakers

It was almost refreshing to not have the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks involved in the trade deadline, but other than Roy Hibbert trade possibilities, it was always unlikely the Lakers were going to do anything at the deadline.

For a franchise that, historically, has never lost like this for this long, it takes a great deal of poisee to stay strong and embrace the ongoing youth movement that revolves around D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. It was almost a relief that the only Lakers buzz we saw all day revolved around Hibbert and the possibility of a buyout.

Hibbert’s $15 million contract comes off the books this summer anyway, so now it’s just a matter of getting head coach Byron Scott to feed the youngsters as many minutes as possible. This team is still terrible, but now we can just focus on Kobe Bryant’s farewell tour and the development of the team’s building blocks.

Grade: B+

Next: Memphis Grizzlies