With the NBA trade deadline approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers are exploring ways to address clear roster needs. According to an NBA insider, the Lakers have shown interest in two Brooklyn Nets frontcourt players as trade talks continue to develop.
Los Angeles Lakers Looking To Bolster Their Frontcourt
The Lakers are reportedly focused on improving their frontcourt depth and defense ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Those needs have been evident throughout the season, particularly on defense.
NBA insider Brett Siegel reported on X on Thursday, Jan. 29, that the Lakers are looking at potential frontcourt help from the Nets.
“There are some within the Cavs organization who like the idea of adding Dalton Knecht in a buy-low spot to get off Hunter’s contract, yet discussions have been ongoing,” Siegel wrote. “The Lakers have expressed interest in Haywood Highsmith and Day’Ron Sharpe from Brooklyn.”
Siegel made the comment while replying to an earlier post in which he outlined the broader framework of ongoing trade talks involving multiple teams.
“As the Lakers continue to be linked to De’Andre Hunter, the Cavs have been in discussions with a couple other teams regarding him, league sources told @ClutchPoints,” Siegel wrote. “The Nets have come up as a third team to help facilitate money. Hunter is likely to be traded before Feb. 5.”
The report places the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Nets in overlapping discussions as the deadline nears.
Los Angeles reportedly previously inquired about Day’Ron Sharpe during talks that led to the acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith, but the team did not move forward due to Brooklyn’s draft pick demands.
Sharpe would address the Lakers’ need for a reliable backup center. He provides rebounding, shot-blocking, and interior defense behind the starting unit.
This season, Sharpe is averaging 7.8 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 60.3% from the field. He was selected 29th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns before being traded to the Nets.
MORE: NBA Trade Rumors: Cavaliers Could ‘Buy Low’ on $18,483,220 Lakers Wing
Haywood Highsmith offers a different skill set. The forward brings versatile wing defense, the ability to switch across positions, and low-usage offense. He is averaging 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range. Highsmith went undrafted in 2018 and worked his way into the league, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers before moving to the Miami Heat and later the Nets.
Lakers Defensive Woes Continue
The Lakers’ defensive struggles have been on display recently. In a 129–99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles allowed 60 points in the paint while scoring 48. The Lakers also committed 16 turnovers, which led to 21 Cleveland points. The Cavaliers, by comparison, gave up only 13 points off 10 turnovers.
Despite those issues, the Lakers are 28–18 on the season and currently sit fifth in the Western Conference. Staying competitive in a tightly packed standings race has increased the urgency to address roster weaknesses.
De’Andre Hunter remains a central name in trade discussions. Hunter signed a four-year, $90 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks that runs through 2026. He was selected No. 4 overall out of Virginia in the 2019 NBA Draft. Now with the Cavaliers, Hunter is averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 42.2% from the floor.
