Lakers and Nets to make another trade? Two potential targets for the Purple and Gold: possibly pursuing Claxton and Porter Jr.

On January 21st Beijing time, NBA reporter Matt Moore revealed that before the trade deadline, the Lakers might show interest in two players from the Brooklyn Nets.

He wrote: "Over the past two years, the Lakers and Nets have engaged in several trade discussions and previously completed a deal involving Dorian Finney-Smith, maintaining a good cooperative relationship between the two teams.Claxton would be an excellent acquisition, but the team might also target Michael Porter Jr.."

Both Porter Jr. and Claxton are likely trade targets for the Lakers. Bringing in Claxton would be a moderately sized deal that preserves the team’s future assets while adding an interior player whose skill level rivals current starting center Ayton.

However, Porter Jr. has a higher trade value. His performance this season has notably improved, making him one of the most attractive stars on the trade market. If the Lakers can add this game-changing player to their roster, fans would surely be thrilled.

During his time with the Nuggets, Porter Jr. played a steady role-player role. After joining the Nets, he has had a breakout season and for the first time has the chance to prove he can be a top scorer in the league. Currently, he averages 25.7 points per game, making an All-Star selection a realistic possibility.

The Lakers urgently need a wing player to fill multiple gaps on the team. Porter Jr. can serve as a secondary option, waiting for star teammates to create open shots for him, or take on a more aggressive offensive role when the team faces injury challenges.

Porter Jr.'s improvements in playmaking and leadership make him even more valuable than during his Nuggets tenure. If the Lakers acquire this tall, athletic player, their tactical approach would improve significantly, and the roster depth would surpass the current level. The scarcity of star players on the trade market this season further highlights Porter’s value.

So how can the Lakers acquire Porter Jr.?

Reports indicate the Lakers do not intend to trade Reaves by the deadline and prefer to sign him to a long-term contract during the offseason. For the Nets, even without draft picks as trade chips, they would likely be willing to exchange Porter Jr. for Reaves, viewing him as a new core player. But if the Lakers insist on keeping Reaves, they must devise a more creative trade plan.

The Nets’ ideal demand is to receive one or two future first-round draft picks.Recent reports suggest that in any trade involving Porter Jr. or Claxton, the Nets require at least one unprotected first-round pick.To match salaries, the Lakers will need to send out multiple players.

Players like Hachimura, Vanderbilt, Vincent, and Kleber are among those the Lakers could let go. According to salary matching rules, the Lakers would need to trade three of them to the Nets in exchange for Porter Jr. and a role player from Brooklyn. The Lakers must carefully weigh whether giving up future draft picks to acquire Porter Jr. is a price worth paying.