Rich Paul is making moves! He is pushing for a Hunter trade to the Lakers, and Bridges might also join the purple and gold.

On January 14th Beijing time, Hardwood Paroxysm reported that the Los Angeles Lakers are considering trades to obtain De'Andre Hunter or Miles Bridges. Insiders indicated that Klutch Sports, the agency of LeBron James' agent Rich Paul, has shown intent to push for these trade discussions.

Hardwood Paroxysm wrote: “Whenever I hear that a player under Klutch wants out, I’m always unsure what to think—they seem to constantly talk about leaving... but this chatter disappears once Klutch no longer represents their contracts. According to league sources, this top agency has expressed interest in a ‘Klutch internal player swap’: either sending De'Andre Hunter to the Lakers in exchange for Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent, or using the same package to trade for Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets.”

The 28-year-old Hunter signed a four-year, $90 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and is currently in the third year of that deal; 27-year-old Bridges signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets and is now in his second year. Potential trade scenarios may involve the Lakers sending out Hachimura, Vincent, or other assets to acquire either Hunter or Bridges.

The Lakers currently hold a 23-14 record, ranking fifth in the Western Conference. Luka Doncic averages 33.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game; Austin Reaves was also performing impressively before his injury, shooting 50.7% and scoring 26.6 points per game; 41-year-old LeBron James continues to play a crucial role, averaging 22.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.

The Lakers’ wing rotation could be strengthened by adding Hunter or Bridges. During his time with the Cavaliers, Hunter averaged 13.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game with a 42.5% shooting percentage; Bridges contributes 19.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Hornets.

The Hornets currently hold a 14-26 record, ranking low in the Eastern Conference, while the Cavaliers have a 22-19 record. Lakers management may view these two players as potential reinforcements to support their stars and push for a higher playoff seed.

Klutch Sports’ involvement adds intrigue to this potential trade. The agency has previously facilitated several major deals. Sources say Hunter’s representatives want him to change teams, though this has not been officially confirmed. Bridges’ situation is similar, with reports indicating the Hornets are open to talks if they receive suitable trade offers.

Any trade could affect the Lakers’ current roster balance. Hachimura is averaging 12.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while Vincent averages 5.1 points and 0.9 rebounds.