Trade rumors across the NBA are likely going to start heating up soon now that most players signed as free agents this past summer can be included in potential trades. The biggest piece of trade-related news lately was the story that Giannis Antetokounmpo is once again contemplating whether it would be best for him to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks or ask to go elsewhere in order to win another championship.
Los Angeles Lakers fans are undoubtedly dreaming of the Purple and Gold landing Antetokounmpo, but a smaller trade is much more likely to go down. The team is reportedly looking to land at least one 3-and-D player, and while it doesn’t have a lot of realistically tradable assets, it does have a few players, including guard Gabe Vincent, forward Rui Hachimura and big man Maxi Kleber on expiring contracts that could, if nothing else, offer financial relief.
In a recent article for The Athletic, former Memphis Grizzlies vice president of basketball operations John Hollinger revealed that Vincent and Kleber are the two men the Lakers are most likely to include in a trade before the Feb. 5 deadline.
“The Lakers can use Bird rights to keep LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura this summer and could be players in free agency based on Reaves’ artificially low cap hold — especially if James either leaves after the season or returns for less money. The Lakers, much like Milwaukee above, can also put a lot more in draft capital into a trade after the season but can only offer one first-round pick right now.
“That said, one roster approach to max out both their present and future would be to deal for 2026-27 salary at the deadline, when they can still add money to their book and apron rules won’t block them from sign-and-trades or other maneuvers.
“Los Angeles must tread carefully because it’s so close to the first apron, where the Lakers are hard-capped, but adding $23 million in salary is possible if Vincent and Kleber are the outgoing salaries. They can net even bigger fish by including Jarred Vanderbilt’s $11.5 million, but his contract is likely problematic because it runs through 2027-28.
“I’d probably file this one under ‘opportunism.’ The Lakers don’t need to chase bad deals, but their expiring money and the one first could let them pounce if an optimal situation presents itself.”
While both Vincent and Kleber have been getting meaningful playing time this season, neither player has produced much. But with the NBA’s hard salary cap making plenty of teams feel a bit suffocated, perhaps there will be a few takers for both men among teams that are going nowhere right now, especially if L.A. adds enough draft compensation.