Lakers linked to 3 Nets ahead of NBA trade deadline

Though considered to be one of the most "interesting" teams to monitor ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, with just hours remaining till the 3 PM (EST) cutoff the Brooklyn Nets have yet to make any noise.

However, recent rumblings suggest that they could be a team heavily pursued by a particular Western Conference title hopeful during these twilight hours of trade season, as Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports revealed in a February 7 report that the Los Angeles Lakers have expressed "interest" in Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, and, to a lesser extent, Royce O'Neale.

Lakers interested in 3 Nets players ahead of NBA trade deadline

"One of the most consistent pieces of league-wide information has been Los Angeles’ interest in several players on the Brooklyn Nets. It seems Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie are the two Nets who offer the most intrigue to the Lakers, but Los Angeles has also shown interest in Royce O’Neale, sources said. The Nets also roster Lonnie Walker, who fans may recall became a Lakers postseason cult hero last spring and has drawn interest from multiple playoff contenders."

- Jake Fischer

For months now it has been reported that Finney-Smith has been a hot commodity within the trade rumor mill, though rumors have been that the Nets hold an egregiously lucrative asking price for him with some stating GM Sean Marks is looking for multiple first-round picks for his services.

As a result, many believed that the odds of seeing the forward moved at the deadline were rather slim.

Current predictions seem to sing a different tune, however, as Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley strongly believes that he, along with O'Neale, will be dealt outbound by today's deadline.

Both can play out on the wing, defend multiple positions, and shoot at a highly efficient rate from beyond the arc, which makes them highly valuable commodities for teams looking to contend this season.

As for Dinwiddie, though he's struggled throughout the 2023-24 campaign, he's still a quality backup combo guard who can score from virtually anywhere on the court and can run an offense, though preferably within a second unit role.