The main motivation for the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the NBA trade deadline is shedding contracts and avoiding the repeater tax. It may be unfamiliar territory for the storied franchise with the team attempting to save money, but it has become clear that they aren’t competing for the playoffs at this point.
With the team’s motivation being to shed money to get under the luxury tax in order to avoid the repeater tax, Steve Blake is a candidate to be shipped out of Los Angeles before the deadline on Feb. 20.
One destination for Blake could be with the Golden State Warriors. Sam Amick of USA Today appeared on the radio show Rise Guys on 95.7 the Game and spoke about Blake potentially being headed to the Bay Area according to Mark Kreidler:
Longtime friend of the show @sam_amick of USA Today throws out Steve Blake as one name #Warriors might grab at trade deadline. Speculating.
— Mark Kreidler (@MarkKreidler) February 17, 2014
Along with Blake, another name that surfaced in a trade rumor on Monday was Jordan Hill. Apparently, the Lakers have had discussions with the Nets to send Hill to Brooklyn in another move that would simply be shedding a large contract for nothing in return.
With only a few days left until the end of the NBA trading period, the Lakers may very well make a few different moves to avoid being handed a large bill from the NBA. Blake and Hill are two candidates along with Pau Gasol that could be shipped out before Thursday’s deadline.
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