The 2014 NBA trade deadline is right around the corner with teams in the league having about a week to wheel and deal.
As usual, the Los Angeles Lakers have been mentioned in a few different trade rumors this season with Pau Gasol at the center of it all. It’s has been all quiet on the trade front recently, but Gasol could still be on the move before Feb. 20.
Before the Lakers went head-to-head against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, GM Mitch Kupchak spoke with the media and talked about the team’s plans for the upcoming trade deadline. Kupchak emphasized the team is looking toward the future and no immediate fixes if the Lakers end up making a trade according to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com:
LAL GM Mitch Kupchak spoke to a few of us pregame. Implied that if LAL make a move at the deadline, it’ll be to address 2014-15 & beyond.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 14, 2014
It’s safe to say at this point that Kupchak and the Lakers will not be swinging for the fences this time around. Gasol may still be on the move before the deadline on Feb. 20, but it likely won’t be for another big-name player in return.
From now until the trade deadline, the Lakers may be targeting draft picks in order to bring in younger talent this summer in the 2014 NBA Draft. Kupchak and company may be able to bring in the desire return for Gasol in a deal next week, but it remains to be seen if it’ll be done with the Phoenix Suns, another team or not at all.
Anything can happen with only a matter of days left before the final buzzer sounds on the wheeling and dealing done in the NBA.
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