The Lakers Are Open to Dealing, and Sixers Need to Pounce

NBA rumors have the Los Angeles Lakers looking to deal, and their interest in Nerlens Noel should make them a candidate for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers should be a team that is on just about everyone’s mind this upcoming NBA trade deadline and throughout the whole NBA rumors season, because they are a team that is primed to make a move. There has been lots of anticipation regarding the Sixers and their cluster of big men, and a lot of speculation as to who the team wants to move.

The Sixers don’t necessarily have a shopping list for what type of player they want in return for Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel, whichever one ends up traded (because it seems like, at this point, that has to happen, despite the lack of urgency being displayed by the front office) but a young, scrappy player would be ideal.

According to Steve Kyler, a reporter for Basketball Insiders, the Los Angeles Lakers are open to making trades. They could become a very attractive trade partner for the Sixers, however, they will probably be a team that is tough to deal with during trade season.

As Kyler pointed out in his Tweet, and has been previously reported throughout this season, the Lakers are willing to trade young guys, but they come with a seriously hefty price tag, despite their youth. The Lakers are resting their future on these guys, and for them to give up on them would be a pretty big deal (it just goes to show, building with youth is attractive).

Previous Rumors: Lakers Want Noel

The Lakers’ unwillingness to trade their youth was demonstrated firsthand with the Sixers this year, when they were rumored to be showing interest in Nerlens Noel. The Lakers wanted him, but essentially wanted to give up nothing of value to the Sixers for him (basically meaning no youth, therefore nothing the Sixers wanted).

It’s doubtful that the Lakers have changed their mind on wanting Noel, and it’s also doubtful that they’re willing to give up much for him. That said, the Lakers do seem to be in a spot the Sixers were recently in, losing four of their last 15 games. The team may be interested in the Sixers adding a veteran type of player with Noel in return for one of their young guys.

Still, that seems like a stretch.

But if the Sixers could convince the Lakers to take Noel and Gerald Henderson (Jerryd Bayless would be an even better sell since he’s unusable, but the Lakers will almost positively not take him) off their hands for a D’Angelo Russell or Brandon Ingram (again, this is purely hypothetically, and truly doubtful) it would be a great deal for the Sixers, and a better one than fans are expecting involving a big man right now.

Next: Ranking the Top 10 Sixers Games This Season

Trade rumor season is just heating up, and there’s certainly more to come. This is just the first of the rumors, and as the end of February and the deadline on the 23rd nears, expect to see many Sixers scenarios — both realistic and not — thrown around.