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[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Discussing ‘General Framework’ On De’Andre Hunter Trade With Cavaliers

With the NBA trade deadline just around the corner on Feb. 5, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking for ways to upgrade their roster.

It’s no secret they can use a 3-and-D wing, and one name who could fit that billing, in theory, is De’Andre Hunter of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Hunter just had a good game against the Lakers this week and is reportedly among the players they are targeting in trade talks.

To take it a step further, Chris Fedor reported on the “Wine and Gold Talk” podcast that the Lakers and Cavaliers have discussed the framework of a Hunter trade involving Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and a third team:

“I just want to say from people that I’ve talked to, my sources tell me that a general framework has been discussed between the Cavs and the Lakers and a third team. It’s hard because the Lakers are right below the apron. Like $900,000 below the apron, but they are a tax team. So there are some restrictions that they have, and we all know the complications for the Cavs when it comes to trades, they can’t aggregate salaries, they only have one really first-round draft pick that they can trade, they have to be right on the number in terms of salary-matching purposes. But my sources tell me that the Cavs and the Lakers have discussed a general framework surrounding De’Andre Hunter of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht, and then bringing in a third team.”

Hunter is on the trade block because he is having a bit of a down year for the Cavaliers, averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.2 minutes per game off the bench while shooting 42.2% from the field and 30.9% from 3-point range. Those percentages are significantly lower than his career numbers of 44.8% and 36.5%.

If the Lakers were to trade for Hunter then they would be betting that he could shoot closer to his career numbers while providing some perimeter defense. Reports have indicated that the Lakers are looking to maintain their future cap space going into the summer though, and Hunter would make that difficult as he has one more year remaining on his deal after this one at $24.9 million.

Lakers open to trading both Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht?​

As stated in the report, it would probably have to be a three-team deal to make the money work, but Hachimura and Knecht would likely be the players departing L.A.

According to recent reports, the Lakers would be open to trading both Hachimura and Knecht with the latter needing a change of scenery to get his career back on track.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...ework-on-deandre-hunter-trade-with-cavaliers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Luka Doncic Records Dominant Triple-Double To Lead Lakers To Win Over Wizards

After a rough loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to get back on track on Friday night when they continued their road trip against the Washington Wizards.

This was a very winnable game for the Lakers on paper with the Wizards being in the second night of a back-to-back and Austin Reaves returning to the lineup. That is exactly how things played out as the Lakers dominated the Wizards, winning 142-111 to improve their record to 29-18.

It was a great start for the Lakers as Luka Doncic and LeBron James both found Deandre Ayton for lobs. The Lakers’ two stars also connected on triples to jump out to a 19-11 lead. Doncic was questionable for this game after rolling his ankle on Wednesday, but he was showing no signs of being hobbled early.

In fact, Doncic was absolutely dominant in the first quarter, finding open looks for himself and his teammates. That included finding Jaxson Hayes, who will be participating in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, for three dunks. After a 16-point quarter by Doncic, the Lakers took a 41-27 lead into the second.

James kept the momentum going in the second quarter as he threw down a big alley-oop with his left hand on a pass from Ayton. Doncic then came back in the game and rewarded Ayton for running the floor with back-to-back dunks.

The Lakers continued to pour it on the end the half, taking a 77-48 lead into the locker room. Doncic had a triple-double in the first half alone with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

The start of the third quarter was more of the same as Doncic continued to make ridiculous shots while James threw down a reverse alley-oop.

After leading by as many as 38, the Lakers naturally let go of the rope a little bit to end the third quarter, although they still took a comfortable 108-84 advantage into the fourth.

The Lakers quickly restored order to begin the final quarter as the bench unit quickly got the lead back up to 28, putting the game out of reach for good. That allowed the starters to get plenty of rest, which is much-needed at the end of a long road trip.

Doncic only needed to play 31 minutes in the victory and finished with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists and three steals.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will close out their longest road trip of the season against the New York Knicks on Sunday and then the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday before heading home.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-luka...le-double-to-lead-lakers-to-win-over-wizards/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Luka Doncic In ‘Great Place’ One Year After Trade From Mavericks

Feb. 1 marks the one year anniversary of Luka Doncic being traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite all of the time that has passed, it feels like the impact of this deal will never subside.

The Lakers were in a predicament where their future looked murky with LeBron James aging and Anthony Davis in his early 30s. Fortunately, the Lakers always find their next star and they did so with Doncic, who was just 25 years old at the time.

The Slovenian guard called Dallas home for seven years to start his career and once he got dealt, it was up in the air whether he would accept L.A. as his new long-term home. However, now that a year has gone by, Doncic believes everything worked out for the best, via Melissa Rohlin of the California Post:

“I’d probably say it’s all going to turn out good,” Doncic told the California Post. “At that time, I didn’t know. I was shocked. But right now, I feel like I’m in a great place.”

After signing an extension this summer, Doncic’s commitment to his new team is apparent and his belief in this franchise is high:

“It’s a big opportunity for me,” Doncic said. “I feel great where I am. The team is good. I feel like I’m myself, personally. I feel great here. I like living in LA. I love the fans. So, I’m really in a good spot right now.”

Unfortunately, injuries have hindered the Lakers from achieving their full potential, but again, Doncic remains optimistic about how their season will turn out:

“Yeah, for sure,” Doncic said. “We had a lot of injuries, I think we had the most starting lineups in the NBA. But, obviously, when we’re all healthy, I think we’re a great team.”

With the trade deadline approaching, this roster still needs work despite their new star maintaining a high belief in his teammates. Yet, getting everyone healthy would allow L.A. to finally see what their true positives and weaknesses are.

Moving forward though, general manager Rob Pelinka needs to have a collaborative process with Doncic to better construct a team suiting his strengths as a player. It will not happen overnight, but acquiring a generational talent like the Lakers did, they cannot afford to squander this opportunity.

Big men across NBA want to play with Luka Doncic​

The bright lights of Los Angeles attract all walks of life and Doncic has re-energized the city with his arrival. Over the next handful of years, players will want to be on that stage to play with Doncic, specially big men according to recent reports.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-luka-doncic-in-great-place-one-year-after-trade-from-mavericks/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Interest In Cavaliers’ De’Andre Hunter Believed To Be ‘Overstated’

Leading up to the 2026 NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to a number of players as they look to upgrade their roster to compete for a championship.

Perhaps the player they have been linked to most is De’Andre Hunter of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who could help fill their need for a 3-and-D wing even though he is having a bit of a down year.

According to recent reports, the Lakers and Cavaliers have discussed the general framework of a Hunter trade that would include Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and a third team.

When names are being mentioned, that usually means the trade is close to completion, but that doesn’t appear to be the case with this one. According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Lakers’ interest in Hunter is believed to be overstated:

League sources say that the Lakers’ interest in Hunter, meanwhile, has been repeatedly overstated this week. The teams have certainly talked during this transaction cycle, but the purple and gold are reticent to jeopardize their upcoming financial flexibility in the offseason by absorbing Hunter’s $24.9 million salary for next season.

As stated, Hunter is under contract at $24.9 million next season and the Lakers are believed to be prioritizing financial flexibility and cap space to try to lure another star to play with Luka Doncic.

With that being the case, the Lakers likely wouldn’t give up anything of significance for Hunter, who is averaging 14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and 30.8% from 3-point range in 43 games (23 starts) this season.

Things can always change between now and the deadline, especially if the Cavaliers lower their asking price, but it makes sense for the Lakers to look elsewhere for upgrades as swapping out Hachimura for Hunter isn’t much of an improvement.

Lakers a ‘team of interest’ in potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade​

One major move Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office could be exploring is a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo as they are reportedly a team of interest in a deal for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar.

The team doesn’t have the assets to make a deal happen now, but if Antetokounmpo stays put until the summer, some more options will open up if L.A. wants to make a run at the two-time MVP.

A potential move like that is likely why the Lakers are hesitant to give up anything of substance for Hunter at the deadline.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...ers-deandre-hunter-believed-to-be-overstated/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: LeBron James Named NBA All-Star Reserve

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been named an NBA All-Star for the 22nd consecutive season, extending his league record. He was named to the Western Conference reserves pool on Sunday night, making it the first time in his 22 years as an All-Star that he isn’t a starter.

James becomes just the second player in NBA history to earn multiple All-Star selections after age 40, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

LeBron missed the first 14 games of the season for the Lakers due to a sciatica issue in his back, and got off to a bit of a slow start once he did make his season debut on Nov. 18. He even lost his decades-long double-digit scoring streak on Dec. 4 against the Toronto Raptors.

However, he has looked every bit like his usual self since that game. James is averaging 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game on 52.0% from the field and 34.5% from three in his last 24 games. He is doing this at 41 years of age and in an NBA-record 23rd season.

There was serious doubt over whether or not LeBron would be named an All-Star at all this season, breaking a 21-year streak. He did not have the requisite votes to make it in as a starter, and with how crowded the Western Conference is, there were definitely more than seven players deserving of a spot.

The Eastern Conference likely would have had James make it with ease. They did not have the same depth of star players, especially with players like Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton out for the season.

And it’s arguable that had Lakers guard Austin Reaves not gotten injured, he very well would have made the All-Star team, potentially even instead of LeBron. Regardless, the Lakers now have two representatives at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The game this year is a USA vs. World tournament, with the 24 players in the pool being split into three teams of 8. The event will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15 on NBC and Peacock.

Full list of NBA All-Star reserves​

The starters for the All-Star Game are Cade Cunningham, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey in the East, and Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry and Victor Wembanyama in the West.

Eastern Conference

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Norman Powell, Miami Heat
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

Western Conference

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-lebron-james-named-nba-all-star-reserve/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers Struggle Greatly In Second Half, Resulting In Loss To Knicks

The Los Angeles Lakers looked to continue their strong road trip on Saturday night when they rolled into Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks. Given all of the storylines surrounding this game, it was the most expensive NBA regular-season ticket in nearly a decade.

The Knicks were one of the hottest teams in the league coming into this one, and that continued as they pulled away in the second half to earn a 112-100 win.

L.A. made it a point to get Deandre Ayton going early with a pair of buckets inside, and then LeBron James scored five straight points to take an early lead. Similarly, OG Anunoby had it working for the Knicks with eight points, including a pair of triples, to quickly take the lead back.

Luka Doncic got off to a slow start, but it didn’t take him long to get going with a pair of 3-pointers and a lob to Rui Hachimura. Coming off the bench, Hachimura made his first three shots and the Lakers led 33-27 at the end of the first quarter.

After the Lakers extended their lead to nine, the Knicks responded with two triples to stay within striking distance.

L.A.’s offense cooled down in the second quarter as there were a number of missed jumpers and free throws. Their zone defense helped cool down New York too though and the Lakers were able to take a 56-52 lead into the halftime locker room.

It wasn’t a great start to the third quarter for the Lakers as they had some careless turnovers and the Knicks took advantage to regain the lead. L.A. was also struggling on the defensive glass, forcing JJ Redick to use a quick timeout.

The Lakers had a nice response after that with Gabe Vincent and Doncic hitting 3s to lead an 8-0 run after the Knicks went up by six.

This time, it was the Knicks that responded with another run, getting out in transition and catching fire from deep to take an 90-82 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Lakers and Knicks have been two of the best fourth-quarter teams in the NBA this season, so something had to give in this one.

Ultimately, the Lakers’ lack of shotmaking came back to haunt them. Their role players continued to miss open looks while the Knicks mostly converting, stretching their lead to double digits heading into the final stretch.

There was no comeback to be had for L.A. as the wheels came completely off and the final score looked worse than the game would indicate.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

The Lakers will close out their road trip on Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets before returning home and hosting the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-struggle-greatly-in-second-half-resulting-in-loss-to-knicks/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Luka Doncic & LeBron James Like Lakers’ Roster But Acknowledge They Must Continue To Improve

The Los Angeles Lakers are a good team and have proven that throughout this season. But despite the outstanding play of Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and the pending return from injury of Austin Reaves, most do not consider this team a championship contender.

The Lakers fell to the New York Knicks 112-100 on Sunday night, putting up a good fight, but again succumbing to a rough third quarter, which has been an issue all season long. Doncic finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists while James added 22 points, five rebounds and six assists, but the Lakers just didn’t get enough from their supporting cast.

Afterwards, Luka was asked about the Lakers roster and whether he feels they can compete with a championship and the superstar said that he loves this group of players, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“I think we’re in a good spot. Obviously have some work to do. Today, we missed a lot of good looks. But I think we have a great group.”

When asked the same question, James echoed Doncic’s words about liking the roster overall, while also acknowledging that the Lakers as a whole must continue to get better, via Spectrum SportsNet:

“I like this group. But we gotta continue to get better. And that’s good. We should want to get better, it’s only Feb. 1. But we’re gonna continue to get better and better, what is it, 48 games now? It’s a tough Western Conference, it’s a tough league and like I said, it’s been tough all season dealing with injuries and guys in and guys out. Unfortunately, our All-Star two-guard has been out for a minute, that’s a big piece for our team. So it’s just kind of hard to see what we really truly can be.”

For all of the concerns about the Lakers, they remain right in the thick of the Western Conference race despite many games missed from both Reaves and James, not to mention many other role players on the roster.

This team is not perfect and perhaps there is a move to be made prior to the trade deadline that will get this team closer to championship contention. But this group remains a close one and Luka and LeBron believe in the players assembled on this roster.

JJ Redick addresses state of Lakers roster ahead of NBA trade deadline​

Head coach JJ Redick was also asked about the Lakers roster with the trade deadline approaching this week and the Lakers coach was in-line with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, praising his players for constantly trying to play the right way and saying they’ve been great all season long.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/luka-donci...ut-acknowledge-they-must-continue-to-improve/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Austin Reaves Remains Questionable Vs. Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, the finale of their eight-game-road trip, and Austin Reaves (left calf strain) is again being listed as questionable.

Additionally, Bronny James (left leg soreness) is questionable and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) is out.

The Lakers have been without Reaves since Christmas Day due to a calf injury, which is something you can’t rush back from. Reaves has already dealt with multiple calf injuries this season and if he returns before he’s 100% healthy, he would be risking more serious injury like an Achilles tear.

There was optimism that Reaves would be able to return on the Lakers’ road trip and this is now the third game in a row he is being listed as questionable. In the last two though, he wasn’t feeling quite ready so the organization continued to be cautious.

After the Lakers’ loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday, head coach JJ Redick revealed that Reaves remains day-to-day and the hope is that he will be able to suit up in Brooklyn, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“He’s day-to-day, game-to-game, however you want to phrase it,” Redick said. “We’ll hopefully have him for Tuesday [against the Brooklyn Nets], but he’s got to feel 100% confident.”

The Lakers have gone 4-3 to start their road trip without Reaves, so they have been able to find a way to manage. They should be able to take care of business in Brooklyn if he is unable to go as well, but there’s no denying the Lakers will need Reaves back and at full strength if they want to make any noise in the second half of the season.

Whenever Reaves is able to return, he will likely be on a minutes restriction as he works his way back into game shape.

Luka Doncic wants Austin Reaves to be cautious​

One person who doesn’t want Reaves to rush back in Luka Doncic, who has dealt with multiple calf injuries himself in recent years.

“It’s definitely hard with a calf,” Doncic said when asked about Reaves. “I’ve been through that. It’s not an easy injury. So, we just want him to be healthy. If he’s not ready to come back, don’t come back. But obviously, we’d love to have him out there. We can’t wait for his return.”

Doncic and Reaves built some great chemistry to start the season, so hopefully they can pick up where they left off when the latter returns to action.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-injury-report-austin-reaves-remains-questionable-vs-nets/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

2026 NBA All-Star Rosters: Lakers’ Luka Doncic On World Team & LeBron James On USA Stripes Team

The Los Angeles Lakers have two All-Stars this year with Luka Doncic being the leading vote-getter amongst all players and LeBron James being named as a reserve for the first time, extending his All-Star streak to an NBA-record 22 seasons.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be under a new format with a Team USA vs. World. There will be three rosters with eight players each. Two will be with American-born players while the third will be the international roster and all three squads will face off in a round-robin style tournament.

Each team will face off in three separate 12-minute games and the two teams with the best record will face off in the fourth and final game to crown the All-Star Game winner.

This format also means that Doncic and James will face off against each other at least once on All-Star Weekend and perhaps even twice if their two teams make the final game.

Doncic, of course, will be on the international roster, which features most of whom many would consider the best players in the NBA today. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), former 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and phenom Victor Wembanyama (France) are among the All-Stars leading the World team, which will be coached by Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic.

LeBron will be on the USA Stripes team alongside the likes of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jalen Brunson Kawhi Leonard and others. This team will be coached by Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will take place on Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA. The game will start at 2 p.m. PT and will air on NBC and Peacock, an early start time that past years.

Full rosters for 2026 NBA All-Star Game​

USA Stars Roster​

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

Head Coach: J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons

USA Stripes Roster​

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Kawhi Leonard, L.A. Clippers
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Norman Powell, Miami Heat

Head coach: Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs

World Roster​

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Head coach: Darko Rajakovic, Toronto Raptors

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/2026-nba-a...-world-team-lebron-james-on-usa-stripes-team/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Lakers End Road Trip With Easy Win Over Nets In Austin Reaves’ Return

After going 4-3 to start their longest road trip of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to end it on a high note on Tuesday night against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Lakers got Austin Reaves back after missing a month and a half due to a calf injury, although he came off the bench and was on a minutes restriction. Regardless, the Lakers were able to easily take care of business, beating the Nets 125-109 to improve to 30-19 on the season.

L.A. got off to a nice start in this one as Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Jake LaRavia were all locked in front the jump, turning defense into easy offense. After a couple of step-back triples by Doncic, the Nets needed a timeout as the Lakers led 26-11.

Everything was going right for the Lakers in the first quarter as Doncic was unconscious and they were moving the ball well. Reaves then entered an immediately got fouled to end the quarter, giving the Lakers a 45-23 lead.

Not much changed in the second quarter as the Lakers continued to pour it on. After missing his first two shots, Reaves made two in a row as he began to regain his rhythm. He then threw an alley-oop off the backboard to James, who threw down another monster dunk in transition to get the crowd on their feet.

After leading by as many as 38 though, the Lakers let go of the rope a bit to end the half and went into the locker room with a 69-40 lead.

Reaves looked so good in the first half that JJ Redick put him out there with the starters to begin the third quarter in place of LaRavia. Considering Reaves was on a minutes restriction though, part of the reason for him joining the starting group was for him to get his minutes in before the fourth quarter since the game was a blowout from start to finish.

Similar to the second quarter, the Lakers had a poor close to the third but still took a 100-74 lead into the fourth.

L.A. quickly got the lead back to 30 at the start of the fourth quarter, allowing them to empty the bench and cruise to the easy win.

What’s next for the Lakers…​

After the conclusion of their long road trip, the Lakers will now return home for matchups with the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks leading up to the All-Star break.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-lakers-end-road-trip-with-easy-win-over-nets-in-austin-reaves-return/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Jaxson Hayes Suspended One Game For Pushing Wizards Mascot

Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has been suspended one game without pay for pushing a Washington Wizards mascot during pre-game introductions, it was announced on Wednesday by James Jones, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations with the NBA.

The incident occurred during pregame introductions of the Lakers’ 142-111 win over the Wizards at Capital One Arena on Jan. 30.

Hayes will serve his one-game suspension when the Lakers host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena.

Here is video of the incident that occurred to lead to the suspension:

Here is video of Jaxson Hayes shoving the Wizards mascot, which led to a one-game suspension.

(via @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/IMyBbic9Cj

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) February 4, 2026

According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, the mascot was not injured during the incident:

Sources tell me, actually, that G-Wiz, the Wizards mascot, was not injured after the incident with Hayes that led to the suspension.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) February 4, 2026

While it’s good to see that the mascot was not injured and it’s unclear what led to the push, that type of behavior is not something the league is going to tolerate and now Hayes will be out for one game.

The suspension comes at an unfortunate time as the Lakers just got back to full strength with Austin Reaves returning in Tuesday night’s win over the Brooklyn Nets.

The Lakers have been dealing with guys in and out of the lineup all season, and the hope was for everyone to be available for an extended stretch to finally build some continuity.

Additionally, the NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, so depending on what moves the Lakers make, they could already be playing against the 76ers with a shorthanded roster, and now Hayes will be unavailable as well.

With Hayes out, the Lakers will likely turn to either Maxi Kleber or Drew Timme for backup center minutes, and they have also had some recent success going small with LeBron James, Rui Hachimura or Jarred Vanderbilt at center.

Luckily, it is only a one-game suspension for Hayes, who will be eligible to return for Saturday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors.

Jaxson Hayes to participate in NBA Slam Dunk Contest​

It was recently announced that Hayes will be one of the four participants in this year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

Hayes has thrown down a lot of crazy dunks throughout his career, most recently one he put through his legs late in the Lakers’ win over the Chicago Bulls.

Centers haven’t always fared well in the Dunk Contest, but Hayes could be the perfect mix of size and athleticism to pull off something unique to win the event.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-jaxson-hayes-suspended-one-game-for-pushing-wizards-mascot/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Giannis Antetokounmpo Rumors: Lakers Would Become ‘Viable Threat’ To Trade For Bucks Star This Summer

The Los Angeles Lakers have yet to do anything, but it has already been an exciting trade deadline across the NBA.

While star-level players like James Harden, Darius Garland and Jaren Jackson Jr. have already been dealt, the biggest name still on the board is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

With the Bucks struggling, it may finally be time to move Antetokounmpo to give him a chance to compete for titles before his best days are behind him.

There are a number of interested teams putting together packages to land the Greek star, but if the Bucks don’t get an offer to their liking then they could hold onto him for the rest of the season and revisit talks in the summer when teams have more to offer.

One of those teams is the Lakers, who only have one tradable first-round pick at their disposal now, but would have access to three in the summer. That’s not including pick swaps and second-rounders.

So with that being the case, NBA insider Marc Stein is reporting that the Lakers would become a viable option for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks if he is not traded before the deadline:

No one is talking about the Lakers as a factor in The Giannis Sweepstakes right now because they’re not a factor if a trade is going to happen by week’s end. They don’t have enough tradeable assets to join the in-season bidders.

But if the Bucks do ultimately decide to take this saga into that spring …

The Lakers, league sources say, would then indeed become a very viable threat to land No. 34.

There is little choice for the Lakers, heading into Thursday’s deadline, except to stay patient and avoid deals that involve any long-term salary to maintain maximum flexibility for the spring. The hope for the purple-and-gold would then be to use their considerable projected salary cap space to be able to take in a contract like Antetokounmpo’s via trade — or another expensive star if one shakes loose post-playoffs — to pair with backcourt cornerstones Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves (who returned to action Tuesday night in Brooklyn after a 19-game injury absence). And dealing with the Lakers in such a scenario would almost certainly spare the Bucks from getting saddled with unwanted contracts.

This isn’t the first time the Lakers have been linked to Giannis, and it’s no surprise as the organization is always looking to find its next star.

That is especially the case now that they have Luka Doncic signed long-term as he will need a true co-star in order to compete for a championship.

Perhaps Antetokounmpo is that star, but in order for it to be possible, he has to stay put in Milwaukee past Thursday’s deadline. If he does, then things could get interesting this summer when the Lakers have the cap space and draft capital to pull off something big.

Giannis Antetokoumpo looks up to LeBron James​

After the Lakers recently played the Bucks, Antetokounmpo spoke about his admiration for LeBron James and how he has paved the way for all of the league’s current stars.

“I think he is the blueprint for every athlete, not just basketball athletes, on how to be consistent. To be consistent for 23 years, to be available, to be a winner, to lead by example,” Giannis said of LeBron. “It is incredible for me to be around greatness and I will never take it for granted. I have the utmost respect for him and his family and the way he has carried himself for 22 years. I think he brings the best out of me as a player and he’s one of those guys that I definitely look up to.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/giannis-an...e-threat-to-trade-for-bucks-star-this-summer/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Acquire Luke Kennard From Hawks For Gabe Vincent, 2032 Second-Round Pick

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired sharpshooting guard Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick.

Kennard is one of the best shooters in NBA with a career 44.2% 3-point percentage. This season, he leads the league in 3-point percentage at 49.7% and has 14 games with at least three made 3-pointers. In 46 games with the Hawks, Kennard is averaging 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting a career-high 53.8% from the field and 91.4% from the free-throw line.

Kennard gives the Lakers the deadeye shooter this team has been lacking. The Lakers rank 22nd in the NBA in 3-point percentage and 23rd in 3-pointers made per game. Additionally, his presence on the court should help open up the floor for the Lakers’ trio of creators in Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James.

The consistency of Kennard has been outstanding throughout his career. In nine NBA seasons, he has never shot below 39.4% from deep and has knocked down at least 43% in each of the last six seasons.

The Lakers signed Vincent in the summer of 2023, but injuries marred his time with the franchise. He was limited to just 11 games in his first year with the team and has missed 20 games this season due to multiple different injuries.

When healthy, Vincent provided the Lakers with a solid, reliable point guard option who could defend well and provide some shooting and playmaking on offense. But the team feels it can benefit from one of the truly elite shooters this league has ever seen, a type of player that has typically thrived next to LeBron throughout his career, and there is no doubt that Kennard will see plenty of open looks playing next to the Lakers’ stars.

The Lakers will be the fifth stop of Kennard’s career as he previously spent time with the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies before signing with the Hawks this past offseason.

Kennard also spent two seasons at Duke University, the alma mater of head coach JJ Redick, and in his final season with the Blue Devils was a second team All-American.

Lakers could become ‘viable threat’ for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer​

While it has been a relatively quiet deadline for the Lakers, the team could be looking to make a major splash in the offseason. With Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to stay put at the deadline, the Lakers are a team that could be a ‘viable threat’ to land him in the summer.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-acq...awks-for-gabe-vincent-2032-second-round-pick/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Austin Reaves Catches Fire In Second Half Against 76ers

After a long eight-game road trip, the Los Angeles Lakers finally returned home to Crypto.com Arena and hosted the
Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. The Lakers and 76ers entered the matchup with similar records, setting up an entertaining matchup between two playoff hopefuls.

The first home game after a road trip is often a trap game and it looked that way in the first half as Los Angeles’ offense struggled to find any consistency. Meanwhile, the Lakers had no answer for Joel Embiid who feasted on switches and jumpers to give the 76ers the lead.

To make matters worse, Luka Doncic was forced out of the game near the end of the second quarter due to lower leg soreness. Doncic didn’t quite look like himself when he was on the floor, but seeing him walk back to the locker room was concerning.

Without Doncic, Los Angeles needed a group effort to stage a comeback and the team responded with one of its best overall halves of the 2025-26 season. Although the game came down to the final minute, the Lakers held on for a thrilling 119-115 win.

Austin Reaves made his return from a calf injury on Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets, and came off the bench again against Philadelphia. The Lakers needed one of their stars to step up in Doncic’s absence and Reaves answered the call as he was highly efficient scoring from the field.

The 76ers struggled to contain Reaves from the perimeter, but the star guard also torched them with his jumper. Reaves dominated the fourth quarter, knocking down incredibly difficult 3-pointers to give the Lakers their first lead of the night.

Reaves looked 100 percent healthy in the win, scoring a team-high 35 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists in just 25 minutes.

Maxi Kleber earned a spot in the rotation with Jaxson Hayes serving a one-game suspension and the veteran big man made good on his minutes. Kleber didn’t do much offensively aside from a dunk in transition, but his contributions came outside of the box score as he scrapped to keep possessions alive. He was also solid defensively, actively rotating and challenging shots at the rim.

Kleber had a modest stat line of four points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals but his impact was felt on both ends of the floor.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will continue their home stand on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. They’ll then play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-highlights-austin-reaves-catches-fire-in-second-half-against-76ers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Injury Report: Luka Doncic Ruled Out, Luke Kennard Questionable Vs. Warriors

The Los Angeles Lakers released their injury report for Saturday’s game against the Golden State Warriors and Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) has been ruled out while Luke Kennard (trade pending) is questionable.

Additionally, Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) remains out while Jaxson Hayes will return to the lineup after his one-game suspension.

Doncic suffered the injury in the second quarter of Thursday night’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers and he was not able to return.

After the game, JJ Redick did not know the severity of the injury and revealed that Doncic would be getting testing done to determine it.

“Yeah, he, felt some soreness in his hamstring. He didn’t feel like it was good enough to go back in [and] neither did medical. So we held him out,” Redick said. “He’ll get some imaging. I mean [it’s] too early to say if there’s an injury, but [he] just had a sore hamstring.”

It still remains to be seen exactly how much time Doncic will miss, but it makes sense for the Lakers to be cautious and hold him out against the Warriors to avoid it becoming a more serious injury. The Lakers only have four more games until the All-Star break and then would get eight days off, which would give Luka plenty of time to rest and get healthy.

With Doncic out though, that obviously puts more pressure on LeBron James and Austin Reaves to run the team’s offense. Reaves just got back from his own injury but looked phenomenal leading L.A. to victory over the 76ers after Doncic went down.

Meanwhile, Kennard has a chance to make his Lakers debut, although he said it will depend on getting his physical wrapped up beforehand.

Austin Reaves: Lakers need Luka Doncic​

It’s been a rough year for the Lakers due to injuries as LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic and others have all missed time. Reaves just got back this week to put the Lakers at full strength really for the first time, but now Doncic is dealing with this hamstring injury.

Even if he misses time, Reaves is hoping that Doncic will be back soon given his importance to the team.

“I talked to (Doncic) a little bit at halftime, asked if he was OK, and he kind of just looked at me,” Reaves said. “Hopefully it’s nothing major. We need him. He’s our best player and the engine of a lot of stuff that we do. Hopefully it’ll be good news tomorrow.”

The Lakers have a tough four-game stretch coming up against Western Conference teams before the All-Star break, and Doncic may not be on the court for some or all of those games.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-inj...ed-out-luke-kennard-questionable-vs-warriors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Marcus Smart Excited To Reunite With Luke Kennard

The NBA trade deadline has officially passed and while the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t swing in major deals, they were able to trade for Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks, one of the most accurate 3-point shooters in NBA history.

Kennard should immediately be able to step in and give the Lakers an absolute sniper that will help space the floor for his teammates. He is also a former teammate of Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia with the Memphis Grizzlies.

The deadline always brings about some anxious times for players as many aren’t sure whether they will be dealt away or not, and that can be difficult for some to deal with. Smart has been in the league 12 years and is no stranger to the seeing his name in the rumor mill around this time and he believes each player handles things differently.

“I think for everybody it affects them differently,” Smart said after the Lakers’ win over the Philadelphia 76ers. “Some people it is a sigh of relief and others it’s just another day for em. Just being able to understand whatever helps you get over it, whatever helps you cope with that. Understanding it and doing it day in and day out.”

And as for the addition of Kennard, Smart is excited to play with him again and see what he can bring to this Lakers team.

“It was a pleasure to play with Luke in Memphis,” Smart added. “One of the better shooters in this league. He comes to work every day and I’m excited to see him out here with us again, me and Jake, and kinda keep going what we had in Memphis.”

Kennard is a career 44.2% 3-point shooter and this year is leading the entire NBA with a career-high 49.7% mark from deep. Playing off of playmakers like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James should only result in some great looks for him and he has shown he can knock them down at a high rate.

Smart has seen up close what kind of impact Kennard can have on a team and his addition could pay real dividends for the Lakers through the rest of the season.

Lakers coach JJ Redick plans to tell Luke Kennard to shoot more​

While Luke Kennard is one of the best shooters the league has ever seen, he has never been the most high-volume shooter averaging just 4.4 attempts from deep per game. But Lakers coach JJ Redick plans on pushing him to shoot even more.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-marcus-smart-excited-to-reunite-with-luke-kennard/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Changes Expected To Model Front Office After Dodgers This Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have underwent some major changes over the last year with Jeanie and the Buss family selling their majority ownership stake to Mark Walter, who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Walter has had a lot of success with the Dodgers, winning three of the last six World Series’, and now will look to do the same with the Lakers.

In order for that to be possible though, some changes are needed. When Walter took over the Dodgers, he invested heavily in the infrastructure of the organization, building an exceptional front office with the brightest minds in the sport, led by Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, as well as other departments like scouting and analytics.

The Lakers, on the other hand, have had one of the smallest front office and scouting departments in recent years, which is part of why they have often been losing on the margins.

It appears that is set to change though as according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Lakers are planning to add to their front office this offseason to model the organization after the Dodgers:

The summer presents an opportunity, armed with significant cap flexibility, to start building the necessary components of a modern front office and reap early benefits. League sources say that includes significant hires to a wide range of front-office positions this summer, with the Lakers expected to model their front office after the World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.

“It’s going to be scary,” one rival executive said when asked about the potential of the built-out front office the Lakers are expected to assemble.

It is worth noting that Walter has also invested a lot into the Dodgers’ roster over the years, signing numerous big-name free agents. MLB does not have a salary cap so that type of spending can’t be replicated for the Lakers, although they will be going into the offseason with a ton of assets and cap space to improve the roster.

How they use those assets and cap space will be vital though, which is why Walter wants to bring in more smart people to help Rob Pelinka run the front office. Who they target will be interesting to see, but it appears some big changes are on the horizon for the Lakers to get them back to a point where they are consistently competing for championships.

Dodgers executive Andrew Friedman outlines involvement with Lakers​

Friedman has done an incredible job building the Dodgers into a juggernaut, and now he is trying to help do the same with the Lakers. Both Friedman and Zaidi have been consulting for Pelinka and the Lakers, and the former recently detailed what that entails.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...el-front-office-after-dodgers-this-offseason/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: LeBron James Leads Way, Luke Kennard Makes Debut Against Warriors

The Los Angeles Lakers have built some momentum this past week, with a win to end their road trip followed up by another in their return to Crypto.com Arena.

However, their Saturday night primetime matchup against the Golden State Warriors would be a bigger challenge as Luka Doncic was ruled out due to hamstring injury. Without Doncic, Los Angeles’ offense took an expected dip in production as they struggled to score against an undermanned Golden Stat squad.

There were a few moments where it looked like the Lakers were headed for a disappointing loss, but instead they picked things up in the second half to claim a 105-99 victory to extend their winning streak to three games.

With Doncic and Austin Reaves still coming off the bench with a minutes restriction, LeBron James was the clear focal point of L.A.’s offense. The first half was a rough one for everyone including James, but the Lakers star took little time heating up in the third quarter as he came out of halftime aggressive shooting the basketball.

James ignited his own personal run at the top of the third that swung the momentum back in Los Angeles’ favor, though Golden State eventually responded to get back within reach. However, James came up with enough timely plays to keep them at bay.

It wasn’t the prettiest or most efficient game from James as he committed seven turnovers and shot 6-of-17 from the field, but he still led the team in scoring with 20 points to go along with 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Luke Kennard, the Lakers’ trade deadline acquisition, finally made his purple and gold debut and it was a good one as he played a key role in the win. Kennard’s first shot was fittingly a 3-pointer that he made, but he also make plays off the bounce as well.

Kennard attacked closeouts and drove all the way to the rim to score, but also moved the basketball to keep possessions humming. He also drained another 3-pointer in crunch time to help the Lakers stave off the Warriors run.

It was a successful debut for Kennard as he finished with 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 26 minutes.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will continue their home stand though it’ll be in the form of a back-to-back as they play the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. They’ll then take on the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday before they leave for the All-Star break.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-hig...ay-luke-kennard-makes-debut-against-warriors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Sign Kobe Bufkin To NBA Contract

The Los Angeles Lakers announced they have signed guard Kobe Bufkin to an NBA contract. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is reported to be a two-year minimum contract with a team option in 2026-27.

This is well-deserved for Bufkin as he has been tearing it up with the Lakers’ G League affiliate South Bay Lakers this season. The guard is averaging 26.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 51.3% from the field and 43.1% from 3-point range in 21 games.

Originally drafted 15h overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2023 out of Michigan, Bufkin only played in 27 games in his first two NBA seasons. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets this past offseason and then waived, eventually landing with South Bay.

Bufkin has worked extremely hard to get his career back on track and has done exactly that. He signed 10-day contracts this season with both the Memphis Grizzlies and Lakers, and now he lands a deal for at least the remainder of this season.

The Lakers have been looking for young 3-and-D players for a while now and Bufkin fits that billing. The 22-year-old will get an opportunity to impress for the rest of this season, and then L.A. will decide if it wants to pick up his team option to keep him on the roster for 2026-27 as well.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka could have turned to the buyout market for the team’s final roster spot, but he instead decided to reward Bufkin instead of likely losing him to another team as plenty currently have open roster spots to hand out.

Rob Pelinka: Lakers were aggressive at trade deadline​

The Lakers’ only moves at the trade deadline were swapping Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard in a trade with the Hawks that also involved a 2023 second-round pick, and now using their 15th roster spot to sign Bufkin.

Despite that though, Pelinka feels the Lakers were aggressive in their trade talks.

“I would say we were aggressive,” Pelinka began. “And one form of being aggressive is saying no to moves that come your way that might not be best for the short- and long-term future. That’s being aggressive, even though you end up doing nothing, because it’s hard to say no sometimes to getting a good player that could be a quick short-term fix, but could have implications for the long term where it doesn’t fit into the overall vision you have for the team.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-sign-kobe-bufkin-to-nba-contract/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

LeBron James Pleased With Lakers’ Addition Of Luke Kennard

The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed their lone trade deadline acquisition to the lineup on Saturday, with sharpshooter Luke Kennard making his team debut. Kennard played 26 minutes off the bench, scoring 10 points on 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from three, doing what he does best next to LeBron James and a still-recovering Austin Reaves.

Kennard and James are likely to have a great rapport on the court, as the 41-year-old superstar has always been at his best when surrounded by shooting. Percentage-wise, nobody in the NBA shoots the ball better than Kennard. The two also have Ohio ties.

LeBron made a joke about their Ohio bond and other previous connections to the combo guard, while discussing how he thinks Kennard will have a positive impact on the Lakers.

“First of all, I haven’t even gotten to the point where I even confronted him about breaking my scoring record in Ohio, when he passed me,” James joked. “But he did play for my AAU team, so we kinda even.

“But I mean listen, he’s a really good basketball player. A lot of people kind of harp on his shooting obviously ’cause he shoots the ball so elite. But his playmaking ability as well. Him being able to crack the defense when they run him off the line. And he made some great spread out passes today. After he had just hit a 3 across from our bench. He had another one, by our bench and passed it up ’cause he saw Vando (Jarred Vanderbilt) underneath the hole, underneath the rim and Vando got the dunk, forced them [the Warriors] to call a timeout. So just a really good basketball player [that] we happen to have.”

LeBron has always appreciated smart and versatile players, and he clearly views Kennard as an intelligent and offensively versatile guy. Kennard showed it in his Lakers debut, doing a little bit of everything in a winning effort without Luka Doncic on the court.

The Lakers have still not been able to have Doncic, James and Reaves all on the floor at once for extended periods of time this season. But having another combo guard like Kennard helps to ease the blow, especially if he can be a willing shooter at 50% from distance.

Luke Kennard broke LeBron James’ Ohio scoring record​

Kennard is from Middletown, Ohio and attended Franklin High School near Dayton. There, he broke James’ scoring record, leading to him being one of the highest-ranked prospects of his class coming out of high school and going to Duke University.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lebron-james-pleased-with-lakers-addition-of-luke-kennard/