NBA Trade Rumors: 3 Players the Los Angeles Lakers should avoid trading for

After making a promising start to the NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have recently struggled without their superstar summer signing, LeBron James. The Lakers have now lost three in a row, and after a run of just three wins in ten games, Luke Walton's men now have a record of 21-19. The team has dropped to 8th place in the Western Conference standings, and the Utah Jazz is now just one game back.

The Lakers recent poor form has demonstrated how heavily the team relies on LeBron James, and the team's recent struggles may be enough to convince Magic Johnson and the Lakers board to target new players before the February trade deadline.

While long-term targets such as Anthony Davis won't be available, there are a number of players from around the league that are reportedly available for trade. Despite this, the Lakers should be wary of making a deal that has long-term repercussions, and here we will look at three players that the Lakers should avoid making deals for.

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#3 Wayne Ellington

2018 JBL Three-Point Contest

Back in December, the Los Angeles Lakers were heavily linked with a move for the Miami Heat's Wayne Ellington. The 31-year-old has been with the Heat since 2016, although Ellington has featured just 20 times during the 18/19 season. Ellington has also played in just two of the Heat's last ten games, and Miami has not missed the shooting guard, as the team has recently improved to a .500 record.

Statistically, Ellington is amidst one of the worst seasons of his career, as the veteran is shooting a career-low .358 from the field. Ellington has also struggled from behind the arc, and this is the area that the Lakers need the most help. Ultimately, at the guard position, the Lakers already have Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo, and Ellington would struggle to find substantial minutes.

#2 Kevin Love

The Cleveland Cavaliers are willing to let Love leave if the right offer comes along

Back in October, ESPN analyst, Stephen A. Smith, revealed that he wouldn't be surprised if the Lakers traded for Kevin Love. Ever since Smith's comments, rumors have linked Love with a reunion with LeBron in Los Angeles, although this is a trade that the Lakers need to avoid.

Kevin Love is an All-Star caliber player, although the pairing of James and Love wasn't enough for the Cavaliers to end the Warriors dominance, so it would be foolish to say that reuniting the duo would be enough for the Lakers to win the West this season.

During the offseason, Love signed a huge four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavaliers, and the 5-time All-Stars arrival would make it difficult for the Lakers to sign a big free agent in the summer. The power forward also recently turned 30, and ultimately, the Lakers need to look for a younger superstar to play alongside an aging LeBron James.

#1 J.R. Smith

J.R. Smith has been made available for trade by the Cleveland Cavaliers

While the arrival of J.R. Smith could help the Lakers until the end of the season, the veteran's contract will continue into the 19/20 season. The 33-year-old is owed $14,720,000 for the current season, and he has a further $3,870,000 guaranteed for next season. This means that the Lakers cannot simply use him for the remainder of the season, before discarding him in the summer, so the organization should be incredibly wary of making a move for the veteran.

It is also questionable as to how much Smith would add to the Lakers team. Smith would find it difficult to break into the Lakers starting five, and in his 11 games for Cleveland this season, the veteran managed just 6.7 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 rebounds. Adding J.R. Smith is simply not going to improve the Lakers Championship chances, and the Lakers should avoid a trade at all costs.