{"id":61274,"date":"2024-01-11T12:27:11","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T17:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=61274"},"modified":"2024-01-11T12:27:11","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T17:27:11","slug":"lakers-rumors-could-la-trade-for-hornets-star-guard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/01\/11\/lakers-rumors-could-la-trade-for-hornets-star-guard\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Rumors: Could LA Trade for Hornets Star Guard?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Lakers hope to bounce back and right the ship for the rest of the season, new reporting indicates the team isn\u2019t aiming for another blockbuster.<\/span><\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s <\/span>Brian Windhorst recently revealed<\/span><\/a> that the purple and gold are hoping to keep their depth instead of sacrificing it in another shake-up:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lakers don\u2019t want to have to make a big move, they prefer to retain their depth and the one last first-rounder they\u2019re allowed to trade. They sure don\u2019t want to trade Reaves and his good contract or trade three players for one like they did with Westbrook. They believe in the formula they have, which is a cadre of long defenders supporting future Hall of Famers. Yes, they can\u2019t shoot and it\u2019s a problem. Yes, their defense has fallen off and it\u2019s a problem. But if they end up doing something significant, it will probably be kicking and screaming. Keep that in mind when evaluating your visits to the trade machine.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At 19-19 and ninth in the West, it’s no secret the Lakers need to upgrade through trades. While searching for the perfect fit<\/a>, several\u00a0big names<\/a> have come up\u2014namely Zach LaVine<\/strong><\/a> and Dejounte Murray<\/strong><\/a>. Now, another key player could enter the conversation, and this time, the luck might be in the Lakers’ favor: Hornets guard <\/span>Terry Rozier<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers Rumors: Could LA Trade for Hornets Star Guard?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Background<\/b><\/h3>\n

Rozier\u2019s name came up in The Athletic\u2019s piece <\/span>discussing the biggest need for every team at the 2024 Trade Deadline<\/span><\/a>. Buha wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The Lakers have several needs, but the buzz around the organization is that offense \u2014 particularly 3-point shooting and downhill athleticism \u2014 are the areas they hope to address within the next month. That could come in the form of a splashy trade for Zach LaVine or Dejounte Murray, or a smaller move for a role player like <\/span>Dorian Finney-Smith<\/span>, Royce O\u2019Neale or <\/span>Terry Rozier<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rozier has played 24 games for Charlotte this season, and he\u2019s been on an offensive tear in the process. He is averaging career-highs in points (24.3) and assists (seven) on 46% shooting from the field and 37% from three. He has scored at least 30 points six times this year, including a <\/span>season-high 42<\/span><\/a> (14\/22 FG, 8\/12 3PT) against the Suns on Dec. 29. Rozier has been just as effective stopping the ball. He’s averaging 1.1 steals per game and making key contributions despite the Hornets\u2019 horrid defense (28th in the NBA).<\/span><\/p>\n

The veteran guard\u2019s ability to win should not be forgotten, either. Rozier was a key part of the 2018 Celtics squad that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. In 19 games, he put up 16.5 points and 5.7 assists on .406\/.347\/.821 splits. Since then, he struggled in the 2019 playoffs and has been stuck on a rebuilding Charlotte squad. However, he has grown as a player and will help a contender immediately. The 8-26 Hornets, by contrast, are way outside of the playoff picture. So, perhaps a change of scenery is needed for both sides.<\/span><\/p>\n