The Los Angeles Lakers seem to typically be in trade rumors every year and almost all of those rumors exclusively revolve around Pau Gasol. This year is no exception, as the Lakers have been shopping him to teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns, but we’re starting to get a better idea of what they want in return.
According to Lakers reporter Mike Trudell, the Lakers front office is looking to make trades that will impact the 2014-15 season and beyond, which is to say they aren’t looking to make immediate upgrades on the roster.
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
This seems to makes sense, since most rumors with the Suns involve first-round draft picks and an expiring contract. The Lakers aren’t totally throwing in the towel this year, but for the first time in a long time, the franchise seems to be as forward thinking as they’ve ever been.