Lakers News: Lonnie Walker IV Focusing On His Game, Not Trade Possibilities

L.A.'s starting shooting guard has been one of the few bright spots in a rough season.

Los Angeles Lakers starting shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV recently chatted with Anthony Irwin of Silver Screen and Roll on Irwin's podcast for a wide-ranging conversation, where they discussed his preparations for the 2022-23 season, how he feels about playing alongside two former NBA MVPs in LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, his new investment in defense, and more.

Irwin brought up the possibility that Walker, who has been enjoying a breakout season with Los Angeles, could be a candidate for a trade. Walker, earning $6.5 million this season, is one of the few actual assets on the Lakers' roster.

He is averaging 16.6 points per game on a .471/.350/.833 slash line. The 6'4" swingman out of the University of Miami is also chipping in 2.3 boards, 1.8 dimes, and a steal per game. He signed on with the Lakers after four seasons spent with the San Antonio Spurs.

Would Lakers team president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka really look to offload their third-best scorer (behind James and Anthony Davis)? Would it be as part of a bigger Russell Westbrook deal, to entice a franchise to send the Lakers solid role players without perhaps surrendering both of the team's two movable future first-round draft picks (in 2027 and 2029), or would Walker be moved in a fire sale for a future draft pick himself should the season continue to go south?

Time will tell.

For his part, Walker is trying to focus on his present with the Lakers, as he told Irwin:

“You have to realize you can only control what you can control. Everything else is in God’s hands. I’m a ballplayer. I’m not here to write about the news. I’m not a GM. I play ball...I come here, I do my work, I go home, I come back later on tonight and get some more shots. I’m just focused on basketball so anything that’s outside of basketball and whatnot, that’s outside of my responsibility and out of my control nor should I let it reflect or deflect onto myself. I try my best to not read into all of it and get into all of that extra stuff because that’s unnecessary energy you put on yourself.”