Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports that the Los Angeles Lakers are unlikely to pursue trades for either Nikola Vucevic or Jakob Poeltl as the trade deadline approaches.
The Chicago Bulls continue to seek a first-round pick in exchange for Vucevic, but no serious traction with the Lakers has materialized. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors have emerged as a potential destination for the skilled big man.
Another rumored Lakers target, Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, is reportedly “essentially unavailable” in trade talks, making it clear that Utah intends to hold onto their promising young center.
Discussions surrounding a potential deal for Jonas Valanciunas of the New Orleans Pelicans have also failed to gain meaningful momentum.
The Lakers’ interest in adding size stems from a clear need for frontcourt reinforcements.
Anthony Davis, their star big man, publicly expressed last week that he wants the team to acquire another center to fortify their rotation before the trade deadline.
Despite these efforts, the Lakers have yet to secure a viable target as negotiations around key players remain stagnant.
Lakers Not Expected To Trade For Nikola Vucevic, Jakob Poeltl https://t.co/6ri5Gvf8ao
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 28, 2025
