The Los Angeles Lakers lastly look like placing issues collectively after a painfully sluggish begin to the 2022-23 season. They’ve received seven of their final 9 video games, and whereas that hasn’t even pushed their file above .500, it reveals that there’s nonetheless hope for this group to salvage their season. Within the course of, a few clear commerce candidates have emerged for the Lakers, with Kendrick Nunn turning into arguably the highest one.
All of the commerce chatter involving Russell Westbrook has quieted down in the meanwhile, as he’s been a key half of the Lakers resurgence. Nunn, however, has been used sparingly to begin the season, and he hasn’t seemed like the identical participant he was previous to lacking your complete 2021-22 season with a knee harm.
Different groups might have time to see if Nunn can determine issues out this season, however the Lakers should not a kind of groups. Los Angeles wants to choose up each win they will in the event that they need to proceed to show their season round, which is why transferring Nunn makes plenty of sense. So if Nunn will get traded, let’s check out the highest three touchdown spots for L.A.’s forgotten guard.
3. Indiana Pacers
The Lakers have been linked to the Indiana Pacers involving a potential commerce for Myles Turner, and whereas swapping Nunn for Turner straight up clearly wouldn’t be one thing that pursuits the Pacers, they might have some curiosity in Nunn amid their unusual rebuild. Indiana appeared prone to bear a tough season, however as a substitute, they’re 12-10 and sitting in fifth place within the Japanese Convention.
Proper now, the Pacers have fairly good guard depth, which makes it a bit extra unlikely they might have a ton of curiosity in Nunn. They could possibly be keen to half with T.J. McConnell, who has had a smaller position for Indiana this season, and provides these minutes to Nunn in hopes he might develop with them. McConnell’s playmaking enhance off the bench might make him an fascinating choice for them.
Los Angeles must surrender much more than Nunn to land Turner, however contemplating the rumors which were swirling round these two groups right here, it’s not out of the image to recommend that Nunn might find yourself in Indiana as a part of a much bigger blockbuster involving Turner. Both approach, the Pacers can be a a lot better spot for Kendrick Nunn to seek out his approach again than in Los Angeles with the Lakers.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a powerful begin to the season, however that doesn’t imply that their roster is ideal. They’re missing depth on the guard place behind Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, with Caris LaVert having to tackle a fairly large position for them. That might make including Nunn a legit chance for Cleveland.
At his finest, Nunn is a constant supply of bench scoring from the guard place. Regardless of being some extent guard, he’s not a real playmaker, and has by no means been completely comfy getting his teammates concerned on offense. Mitchell and Garland are stronger facilitators than Nunn, so it could make sense for them to play him alongside them in the event that they had been so as to add him.
The Cavs don’t have a ton of bench items that may curiosity the Lakers (perhaps Robin Lopez?) which might make getting a deal finished a bit tough right here. Perhaps the Lakers can be keen to tackle a draft choose of two in an effort to construct their draft belongings again up, however it’s clear that Kendrick Nunn might assist the Cavaliers out, which at the very least makes a commerce between these two sides one thing value monitoring.
1. Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are in an identical spot because the Lakers, as they at the moment discover themselves in a little bit of bother. They’re 10-11 proper now, and regardless of making all of it the way in which to the Western Convention Finals final season, they appear nothing like that group this season. And a giant cause why is as a result of they’ve just about no guard depth behind Luka Doncic proper now.
Issues have gotten so dangerous for Dallas that they signed Kemba Walker, who’s a shell of his former self on account of knee accidents, in an effort to shore up their guard depth on the bench. They may absolutely take a flier on Nunn hoping he can discover his approach because the 15 level per sport scorer he was previous to lacking your complete 2021-22 marketing campaign.
There’s no assure that Nunn would pan out for Dallas, however they don’t have many different choices proper now. Three-point specialist Davis Bertans or third-string heart Javale McGee could possibly be of curiosity for the Lakers, but when the Mavs are determined, they might have to offer a bit extra to land Nunn. And proper now, it seems to be like they might be one of the best commerce vacation spot for Kendrick Nunn if he finally ends up getting moved.
