Lakers Trade Rumors: Wizards Star, Not Kyle Kuzma, Inching Closer to a Move to Los Angeles

With the trade deadline inching dangerously close, the Los Angeles Lakers are in a frenzy trying to lock in on a deal. They are ranked 9th in the Western Conference and are struggling to make any major impact this season. With diminishing hopes, the Purple and Gold are looking to acquire a reliable guard. However, the talk about their trade options appears to be evolving consistently.

It started with the Atlanta Hawks‘ star guard Dejounte Murray, but they are still unable to settle on a deal with the Hawks. Further, the Wizards‘ Kyle Kuzma‘s name was also thrown around as a potential prospect. Now, the latest developments point toward another Wizards star that the Lakers might be interested in. Tyus Jones is the name that has popped up.

Wizards could trade Tyus on one condition

The Lakers seem to have changed their target and are now on the pursuit of Washington’s PG Tyus Jones. As per a report by HoopsHype, the 27-year-old star has “drawn trade interest” from LA. However, they might have some competition as other teams like the Spurs, Magic, and the Timberwolves have also been named as the interested candidates. As for the Wizards, they are looking to re-sign the guard in free agency because he is contended as a vital player on the team.

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Despite this, they might be willing to trade Jones only on one condition, and that is if they can acquire a potential first-round pick in exchange. With the Wizards, Jones has been averaging a career-high 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. Most importantly, he has been very healthy this season, having played all the Wizards’ 49 games so far. Adding him to the roster could greatly benefit the Lakers, who have been struggling with injury woes consistently.

What can Tyus Jones bring to the table for the Lakers?

The Lakers are desperately in need of a guard defense, and Tyus can be that man for them. He would be a great point guard option for the team considering that he can run the offense with the ball as well. This would alleviate some offensive burden from LeBron. Tyus has shown improvement in his defense and has been increasing his shooting attempts to a respectable efficiency with a 49.1 FG%, up from last season’s 43.8%.

He has the skills that the Lakers need right now. Moreover, he is on an expiring contract with the Wizards, so he shouldn’t cost much, which is a bonus for LA. Since they cannot close in on a Dejounte deal with the Hawks, because the latter doesn’t want what they are offering (D’Angelo Russell) in exchange, pursuing Tyus seems to be a safe option.

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Do you think Tytus is capable of alleviating the Lakers’ problems on the court? Let us know in the comments below!