NBA trade rumors: Lakers talking Montrezl Harrell deal with the Hornets

The Los Angeles Lakers need to make a move at the trade deadline. Would they really consider trading Montrezl Harrell to the Hornets?

The NBA Trade Deadline is just two days away and the rumors are flying, with the Lakers in the center of many of them. The defending champions will obviously be looking to make a move and they have been in the center of a number of rumors. A throwaway line at the end of a Jack Fischer rumor roundup for Bleacher-Report included an interesting tidbit about Montrezl Harrell.

“Charlotte has also called the Lakers about Montrezl Harrell, Los Angeles’ bruising center, sources said, and the reigning champions appear willing to entertain offers.”

Would the Los Angeles Lakers really trade Montrezl Harrell?

Harrell has been hugely important in his first season with the Lakers, averaging 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per 36 minutes, shooting 64.1 percent from the field. He’s been playing just over 24 minutes per game and would likely play an even bigger role over the rest of the regular season.

The Lakers are certainly in the position of needing to be creative at the trade deadline, with Anthony Davis and LeBron James both out and no firm return date set for either player. There is enough schedule left that they have to be concerned about maintaining their playoff position and making sure they have the health, rhythm and depth to defend their title the way they want to.

The problem is that they don’t have any real assets that aren’t also key rotation pieces. Trading a player like Harrell only makes sense if they’re getting a suitable replacement and someone else who can play meaningful minutes in the playoffs. Something like Malik Monk and Bismack Biyombo could theoretically work for both sides but it’s not clear that actually improves the Lakers in the long-term or the short-term.

So, we sit and wait, sift through the rumors and see what happens.