Lakers’ deal for Goran Dragic called unlikely
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at noon PST and various media reports said the Lakers are one of several teams interested in acquiring Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic.
Dragic is unhappy on a Suns team loaded with point guards and said he would not re-sign with the team after he becomes a free agent this summer. “I don’t trust them anymore,” Dragic said after the Suns practiced Wednesday.
But according to a league official, not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, “no deal appears likely” between the Lakers and Suns for Dragic.
The Lakers are eager to maintain the top-five 2015 protected draft pick they owe the Suns for the Steve Nash trade and the Lakers are hesitant to trade rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson, two NBA officials said. The Lakers also have Houston’s first-round draft pick for the Jeremy Lin deal, but that won’t be a high draft choice.
In addition, the Lakers could sign Dragic in free agency and not have to give up any assets.
Lakers Coach Byron Scott said after practice Wednesday that he only said hello to Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak before practice and that they didn’t talk about trade rumors.
“His job obviously is to try to make us better,” Scott said. “I’m sure he’s probably getting phone calls and making phone calls. But I don’t talk to him unless he’s ready to talk to me about certain things that are going on.”
Scott said he didn’t speak to any of his players about possible trades because it can “put added pressure” on them.
“You’re here until you’re not here, basically,” Scott said.
Hill, Young practice
Center Jordan Hill, who missed the last five games because of a hip flexor injury, and forward Nick Young, who suffered a left foot injury in the Lakers’ last game before the All-Star break at Portland, both practiced Wednesday and are expected to play Friday night against Brooklyn.
Because of the week-long break, Hill got additional time to recover from his injury.
“Both of them looked good today,” Scott said. “Both were a little winded…But Jordan, he ran up and down the floor pretty well today. I think he’ll be a little bit sore tomorrow.”
Nash tutors
On Friday Clarkson had his No. 22 high school jersey retired in San Antonio. Clarkson then got back to work and had a chance to work out with Nash on Tuesday at the Lakers’ practice facility.
Clarkson said they worked for about two hours on the young point guard’s posture on the court and “keeping my chest up and seeing the floor [better.]”
“He says sometimes I’m leaning over too far and that’s why I can’t get into my pull-up [jumper] fast,” Clarkson said.
Etc.
Guard Wayne Ellington missed practice because of stomach problems.
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