For months, the Lakers stood pat and hesitated to move Russell Westbrook or any of their future draft picks to get any deal done. But they realize their title window is closing, and they need to do something about that.

So, even after trading for Japanese forward Rui Hachimura, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka claims the team isn’t done making moves just yet. Here we discuss three potential candidates they should target.

NBA Rumors: 3 Potential Trade Targets For The Los Angeles Lakers

3. Eric Gordon

For years, people have speculated about Eric Gordon joining forces with LeBron in the Lakers. The Houston Rockets have valued him as a veteran mentor for their youngins, but he may not feel the same way.

Gordon recently admitted that there had been no improvement during Stephen Silas’ tenure in charge of the team. He’s not getting any younger, and he might rather play for a contender instead.

2. Jae Crowder

Jae Crowder took to social media to let everybody know his thoughts on the Phoenix Suns. He claims to be underappreciated and undervalued, so he decided to sit out until he was traded somewhere else.

Crowder and LeBron have a bit of history, as he’s been mostly asked to guard him in the playoffs. But the Lakers could most definitely use someone with his 3-and-D skillset and physical play.

1. Buddy Hield

Rob Pelinka had a deal in place to acquire Buddy Hield, but LeBron James and Anthony Davis told him to pursue Russell Westbrook instead. However, it might still be his destiny to wear the purple and gold.

As much as the Indiana Pacers have refused to trade Hield unless someone meets their asking price, he might force his way out of the team next season if he’s not moved to a contender soon. He’s the kind of elite shooter they need to turn their offense around.

The 38-year-old veteran has turned back the clock and been as dominant as per usual in his 20th season. But the roster still has some flaws, and Anthony Davis’ injury hasn’t done a lot to help their winning cause.

The Los Angeles Lakers are still on the doorstep of playoff contention, but they could use a reinforcement or two. Here, we discuss some of the possibilities, talking about three likely trade targets for them.

NBA Rumors: 3 Potential Targets For The Los Angeles Lakers

3. Cam Reddish

Cameron Reddish has shown glimpses of great play, but coach Tom Thibodeau just isn’t a fan of his game. Also, it’s not like the New York Knicks have needed him on the floor during their surprisingly good season.

The former lottery pick is still quite young and has sky-high upside; he might just need an expanded role. Also, the Knicks are only asking for a second-round pick for his services, so he’s definitely worth the risk.

2. Kyle Kuzma

Letting go of Kyle Kuzma was a mistake by the Lakers. But he’s likely to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Washington Wizards, and that leaves the door open for a potential reunion.

Kuzma is playing the best basketball of his career, posting borderline All-Star numbers. He’s been shooting the ball efficiently, and his much-improved defense would add some depth and versatility on the wing.

1. Jae Crowder

Jae Crowder has made it quite clear that he’s not going to play unless the Phoenix Suns either trade him or sign him to a contract extension. Needless to say, the ladder is just not going to happen at this point.

The Lakers have historically thrived with 3-and-D wings, and Crowder’s salary fits their books, that’s for sure. He’s a veteran that could provide a big spark off the bench, as well as solve some of their defensive issues.

Rob Pelinka planned to hold on to his assets and just try and let the season play itself out. Now, it’s evident that they need to make some moves if they want to stand a chance of making the playoffs.

But in reality, the chances of thempulling off a big trade for a star are quite slim. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the three veteran players they could realistically pursue in a trade.

NBA Rumors: Realistic Trade Targets For The Los Angeles Lakers

3. Jae Crowder

For whatever reason, Jae Crowder decided to hold out and act like a superstar, so he’s not going to play unless he’s extended or traded. The Phoenix Suns need him on the court, but not as much as he thinks they do.

The Lakers, on the other hand, are in desperate need of a sharpshooting wing that could hold his own on the defensive end of the floor. Whether he’ll want to play for them, however, remains to be seen.

2. Kyle Kuzma

Kyle Kuzma pretty much started tampering as soon as the rumors of the Lakers’ interest in his services flooded the internet. He talked about that Southern California breeze, and we all know what he meant.

Kuzma isn’t likely to extend his stay with the Washington Wizards. There’s a strong belief around the league that he’s going to be traded, as he reportedly plans to opt out of the final year of his deal.

1. Kelly Oubre Jr.

The Charlotte Hornets aren’t going anywhere. Even if they sign Miles Bridges, he’s likely to be suspended for the year, and they’re just not a good basketball team right now. Not even with LaMelo Ball going berzerk.

So, Michael Jordan would be better off just shaving some big contracts off his payroll. That means Kelly Oubre Jr, an athletic freak with streaky scoring skills and some defensive flashes, could be on the move.

The Dubs made some minor additions in the offseason, hoping the young guns would step up and fill in those voids. But James Wiseman was sent to the G-League, and both Moses Moody, and Jonathan Kuminga have been far from impressive.

That’s why they could set their sights on a win-now piece such as Jae Crowder, a bonafide wing stopper and 3-and-D piece. Still, they may not want to meet his salary, as it would mean parting ways with one of their prospects.

NBA Rumors: Warriors Want To Trade For Jae Crowder

(Transcript via Eric Pinus -Bleacher Report)

“Recently signed free agents cannot be included in any trades until December 15 (Donte DiVincenzo, JaMychal Green), December 26 (Andre Iguodala) or January 15 (Looney). Andrew Wiggins, who recently signed an extension, cannot be dealt this season. But Jordan Poole, who received a rookie-scale extension, is trade-eligible (although the math is complicated, and he’s unlikely to be expendable to the Warriors).

Leaving the team’s three stars out of the equation (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green), that leaves Patrick Baldwin Jr., Ryan Rollins and the Warriors’ three top prospects in Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody.

Wiseman would be necessary to include to make the numbers work before December 15. Additionally, the Warriors must include Kuminga and at least one of the remaining three prospects—or the team could keep Kuminga and sendMoody withBaldwin and Rollins.

(…)

Crowder, 32, may not have as many years ahead of him as the team’s prospects, but he’s a win-now piece. While the Suns may not love the idea of sending Crowder to a conference rival, that may not be enough of an obstacle if the team can add both Gordon and Martin in return.”

The Warriors are now at a crossroads. They can either try and compete now while their title window is still open, or they could try and hope their young guns turn things around and help them compete in the future.

Crowder has developed to be a starter for every franchise he has played with. In fact, with the Phoenix Suns, the forward has been a key player for Monty Williams’ offense, especially in the playoffs. According to the NBA-stat specialized StatMuse, Crowder has more playoff points than Anthony Davis, and Jrue Holiday.

So, any team in the NBA would love to have a crucial player who gives in his best performance when matters the most. Now, the Suns will have to look for a three-pointer who also is playmaker. This looks unreal just days before trainning camp, and less than a month away from the season opener game.

NBA News: Jae Crowder finally reveals why he is looking to be traded away from the Phoenix Suns

As reported by Shams Charania of the Athletic, “the Phoenix Suns and Jae Crowder have mutually agreed that the veteran forward will not participate in training camp as the sides work on a trade.”Despite there weren’t any rumors about a possible trade involving the 32-year-old guard, last week Crowder tweeted and deleted later about him not been available for the first days of the Phoenix Suns’ trainning camp.

So, after the information about his ongoing trade was revealed, he posted on his Twitter account why he agreed to it. In fact, there were recently reports that linked him to a possible Miami Heat comeback after his run with the Florida franchise in 2020.

“One must seek work where he is wanted.. where he is needed.! i am thankful for what these past 2 yrs have taught me.! now i must take on another challenge with continued hardwork & dedication.! for those of you who closed the door on me…. thank you! 99 back soon.!”, he posted on his Twitter account.

It may be true that Miami hasn’t won a championship since the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh broke up, but the franchise still found a way to contend in recent years. In fact, the Heat almost made the NBA Finals last season.

The closest they’ve got to the ultimate glory in the post-LeBron era, however, came in the Orlando bubble in 2020—losing to James’ Lakers in the Finals. One of the most impactful players in that amazing run,Jae Crowder,might be interested in returning to South Beach.

Report: Jae Crowder interested in going back to Miami, but there’s a problem

“We hear Jae Crowder would welcome a return to the Heat and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst — while not mentioning the Heat or any team — said the Suns are ‘are in trade negotiations right now,’” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. “A lot of them are centered around Jae Crowder. Jae Crowder is a player who is available on the market right now.’

“The problem is crafting a deal, within salary cap rules, that would satisfy both teams. It be surprising if the Suns were willing to take the final four years and $75 million of Duncan Robinson’s deal for Crowder, who is due $10.2 million in an expiring contract. It would be surprising if the Heat was willing to offer a first-round pick in a trade for Crowder.”

Crowder has already proven to be a great fit alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, who continue to play a pivotal role in the Heat lineup. Miami could use his veteran presence after PJ Tucker‘s departure, and Phoenix looks ready to negotiate. It remains to be seen, though, how badly they want to make this happen.

But this offseason, which will be crucialto keep their contending status, could bring them bad news from the very beginning. Veteran power forward P.J. Tucker turned down his $7.4 million player option last week and could walk as a free agent on Thursday.

Tucker, who was a key contributorfor Miami this season, is reportedly on the verge of joining the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-year, $30 million deal. Meanwhile, it seems thatPat Riley is alreadypreparing for his possible departure.

Rumor: Heat eye one familiar face and a free agent if PJ Tucker leaves

NBA Free Agency period begins on Thursday, June 30. That day, Tucker will be free to move elsewhere, with the Sixers apparently leading the race to land him. According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Heat would already have two alternatives to Tucker in mind:

“Should the Heat lose out on Tucker, the team, according to an NBA source, is considering either a trade for former Heat power forward Jae Crowder, who is entering the final year of a contract that pays $10.2 million next season with the Phoenix Suns, or a possible free-agent move for Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Warren.”

Crowder spent one season inMiami, helping the Heat reach the 2020 NBA Finals in the Orlando bubble before signing a three-year, $29 million deal with the Suns. Trading for him seems to be an option, but the report also notes that Miami could also target T.J. Warren, an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Needless to say, this will depend on what Tucker ultimately decides.

Before the bubble, controversial model Aliza Jane claimed that she had hooked up with several Suns players at the same time, including rising star Devin Booker. Now, another Instagram model has also been tied to the team but with quite a different outcome.

Shortly after dropping the ball in the NBA Finals, another Phoenix Suns player took a massive L, as Jae Crowder was exposed online trying to slide into an Instagram model’s DMs, and it’s just hilarious.

IG Model Exposes Phoenix Suns’ Jae Crowder’s Attempts To Slide Into Her DMs

To be fair, shooters shoot, so it’s not unusual to see Jae Crowder shooting his shot at this lady. Also, NBA players are known for this kind of behavior and – while it doesn’t make it right – it’s likely that they’re successful more often than not.

The Phoenix Suns have plenty of reasons to look forward to next season. They just inked Chris Paul to a multi-year extension and their young core of Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges looks poised to compete for years to come.

The Suns were one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season and were just a couple of wins away from winning their very first NBA Championship. Sadly, they choked against a well-coached, and highly motivated team.

So, it’s no wonder why Jae Crowder wanted to make the most of his free time while he still can, as he knows that once training camp starts, it’s going to be all business in the desert. Sorry, ladies!