TRADE: The Los Angeles Lakers Have Dealt A Key Player To The Denver Nuggets
On Thursday, the NBA trading deadline is at 3 P.M. Eastern Time, so moves around the league are being reported at a very fast pace.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets have agreed to a deal involving Thomas Bryant.
Via Wojnarowski's first tweet: "The Lakers are trading Thomas Bryant to the Nuggets for Davon Reed and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN."
Via Wojnarowski's second tweet: "Lakers get Denver’s seconds in 2025, 2026 and 2029, sources tell ESPN. Moving Bryant opens up minutes for Jarred Vanderbilt and Wenyen Gabriel in rotation."
Bryant is in the middle of a solid season with averages of 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest (while shooting 65.4% from the field).
The Lakers originally drafted the former Indiana Hoosier with the 42nd pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
He had spent the last four seasons with the Washington Wizards before returning to the Lakers over the offseason.
Right now, the Lakers are the 13th seed in the Western Conference with a 25-30 record in 55 games.
On Wednesday, Wojnarowski reported that they had made a three-team trade for D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Therefore, moving Bryant makes sense because he and Vanderbilt play very similar roles.
As for the Nuggets, they have the best center in the NBA in two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, but Bryant will be able to provide them with great depth off the bench.
They are the best team in the Western Conference, with a 38-17 record in 55 games.
More on the Los Angeles Lakers can be read here
