When a team fails to deliver in the National Basketball Association (NBA), trade deals are sometimes considered helpful to a struggling franchise, and that is what Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak is trying to find.
The Lakers are currently having Kobe Bryant's farewell tour and because of this are spending time this season on the bottom of the Western Conference and NBA standings with an 8–31 record.
Because of their struggles, the Lakers are linked to trade rumors and Kupchak revealed according to SB Nation's Silver Screen and Roll that there have been phone calls made, but they need to be cautious.
"Most of the teams that would have interest in our players would have interest in our young players and we covet our young players pretty highly right now. So it would be tough for us to move a young player," Kupchak added.
The Lakers general manager is also not expecting a massive trade deal to happen this season.
Kupchak already said a few days ago that this season is all about celebrating Bryant, setting aside the chance to hone the younger players in the roster.
But still, they value these youngsters like Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Larry Nance Jr. since they will be the ones taking the helm once Bryant is no longer around, which begins in the 2016–17 season.
The most likely scenario is the Lakers continuing this season and going for big names in the 2016 free agency, with the biggest name on the free agent pool being the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant.
According to Bleacher Report, since Bryant will retire, the money that they used to pay the franchise star goes directly to their cap space which they can use to lure major stars in free agency.
However, for now, the Lakers will likely deal with their current situation and just let this season go to waste.
