The Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks are both out of the playoff seed with the Lakers still within the play-in spot. The Knicks are currently 12th in the East with a 24-31 record while the Lakers are in the 9th spot in the West with a 26-30 record.
After finishing fourth in the East last season, the Knicks could miss the playoffs this year while the Lakers are in danger of missing even the play-in spot. Cleary, changes are needed for the both teams.
With less than 24 hours before the trade deadline, teams are looking to improve their roster to make a final push for their campaign this season.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Lakers, Knicks and the Toronto Raptors have discussed a three-team, five player trade that will send Gordan Dragic to the Knicks, Talen Horton-Tucker and Nerlens Noel to the Raptors while the Lakers will acquire Cam Reddish and Alec Burks.
The Knicks have recenly acquired Reddish in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks last month. But according to the reports, Knicks coach didn’t want his team to get Reddish but the Knicks management still pushed the trade.
Reddish is just averaging less than ten minutes per game with the Knicks compared to twenty-three minutes per game he was playing with the Hawks. Clearly, Thibs doesn’t want to use the twenty-two year-old forward.
Burks, meanwhile, is an essential part of Thib’s rotation, and is averaging 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game while Nerlens Noel just played 25 games this season averaging 3.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks.
The Raptors. on the other hand, wanted to find Dragic a new home. Dragic just played five games with the Raptors this season averaging 8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1 steal in 18 minutes per game.
The Raptors are doing good this season without Dragic and are currently 6th in the East with a 30-23 record. They are also riding a seven-game win streak.
Talen Horton-Tucker has been disappointing for the Lakers this year after signing a three-year contract last summer. The 21-year-old guard is averaging 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists but his shooting efficiency is very low this year with a 41% average from the field and 25% from behind the arc.
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