NBA Trade Rumors: 3 Players who could surprisingly leave the Los Angeles Lakers next month

The Los Angeles Lakers made a promising start to the 2018/19 NBA season, although the team has recently struggled without their superstar summer signing, LeBron James. The Lakers have lost two games in a row, and Luke Walton's men have now won just four of their last ten games.

Due to their recent on-court woes, the Lakers record has slipped to 25-23 and the team has quickly dropped outside the playoff places. The teams current run of form has been alarming, and the Lakers may need to make a number of signings before the trade deadline in order to guarantee a 2019 postseason appearance.

If the Lakers opt to make a trade this month, the organization will inevitably have to give up a current member of the roster. While the likes of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Beasley have been linked with a trade away, here are three other members of the Lakers roster who could be surprisingly traded away before the 2019 NBA trade deadline.

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#3 Lance Stephenson

Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets

Soon after the blockbuster addition of LeBron James, Lance Stephenson signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. The 28-year-old has put aside his past issues with the superstar, although Stephenson is averaging just 15.2 minutes per game, and has yet to start under Luke Walton.

The former Indiana Pacers man has impressed during his limited time on the court, averaging 7.0 points-per-game, while also shooting a near career high of .377 from behind the arc. Despite this, Stephenson has always looked likely to exit the team at the end of the 18-19 season, and if the Los Angeles Lakers want to make a big trade this month, the franchise may have to include the guard.

#2 Lonzo Ball

Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Lakers

It is no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers have spent the last 12 months trying to keep their much talked about 'Young Core'. Magic Johnson has refused to pursue trades for both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George due to his reluctance to lose any of his teams exciting young players, although the Lakers stuttering form could force his hand.

The Lakers will probably need three of the quartet of Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and Lonzo Ball in order to complete a summer trade for Anthony Davis, so the team should be open to giving up a lone member of their core.

While Ball recently suffered a nasty injury, he is only expected to miss four weeks and he is the most likely to make a move this season. The Lakers most realistic trade targets from around the NBA are all guards, and Magic Johnson is unlikely to hesitate if he can next month trade either Bradley Beal or Kemba Walker for Ball.

#1 JaVale McGee

New York Knicks v Los Angeles Lakers

JaVale McGee has forged a successful career since being selected as the 18th overall by the Wizards in the 2008 NBA draft. The center has had successful stints with the Wizards, Nuggets and most recently the Warriors, with whom he won back to back Championships.

McGee signed a one-year $2,393,887 contract with the Lakers over the summer and the 30-year-old is currently having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 10.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Nevertheless, despite being one of the Lakers best players this season, McGee's long-term future is still in serious doubt. He will once again become a free agent this summer, and with Anthony Davis likely to arrive in the summer of 2019, McGee may decide that his future lies elsewhere. Ultimately, if the Lakers are offered the chance to sign a second All-Star before the February trade deadline, don't be surprised if the team are willing to include the impressive McGee.