The Lakers have too many similar pieces.
If they are going to build around Kuzma, and Lonzo, then some other people have to go. If they are trying to sign a star player in the offseason, might be best to trade the players now than being in rush mode later.
The Los Angeles Lakers, needing to shed salary for summer free agency, had been hopeful of waiting until the end of the season to move Jordan Clarkson — owed $26 million beyond this season — but there’s a mutual desire to find something sooner than later. The Lakers have made it clear that Clarkson, Julius Randle and Larry Nance are available.
Los Angeles has given up hope on unloading Luol Deng‘s contract in a trade because it would simply necessitate attaching too many draft assets.
The Deng contract is a killer, but the Lakers are doing what they can to free up money.