NBA Trade Rumours Roundup, January 26th: Major Lakers Trade News, Kevin Love future and more

We have now passed the halfway point of the 2018/19 NBA season, and teams are starting to get a good idea about where they currently stand. Up until this point, both Conferences have remained competitive, with eleven teams in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, while every team except the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies still have a shot in the West.

The February trade deadline is also quickly approaching, as the NBA has made changes to the deadline so that it will now always occur 10 days before the All-Star game. This has been done so that players who are traded have time to settle into their new teams, so this year's trade window will close on February 7th.

So with the trade deadline just over two weeks away, here are the biggest trade rumors you need to know for January 26th.

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Lakers looking to add a three-point shooter

Chicago Bulls v Washington Wizards

So far this season, the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled badly from beyond the arc, and the team currently has the second worst three-point percentage in the league. Due to this, The Athletic is reporting that the Lakers want to add a player who can shoot from range before the trade deadline:

A team source said the Lakers will pursue any three-point shooter on an expiring deal, a group expected to include former Laker Wayne Ellington, Orlando's Terrence Ross, Memphis' Garrett Temple and Trevor Ariza, who many believe could be on the move again before the deadline if Washington continues to falter in the East.

The Lakers have been linked with a move for both Wayne Ellington and Terence Ross for the past few months, while the team tried to acquire from Trevor Ariza from the Phoenix Suns earlier this season.

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Kevin Love can now be traded

Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics

Due to the Cleveland Cavaliers disastrous start to the season, Kevin Love has been linked with a move away from the franchise. Nevertheless, Chris Fedor is reporting that while Love has recently become eligible for trade, the Cavs are not currently looking to move him:

Six months after signing his massive four-year, $120 million contract extension, the Cleveland Cavaliers can legally deal their injured power forward if they so choose. According to sources, the Cavs' stance on keeping Love hasn't changed. They want him in Cleveland. They value what he can bring on the court when healthy and his leadership and set-the-tone work ethic behind the scenes has been very important. He wants to stay with the team as well.

Love has been with the Cavaliers since 2014, and the 30-year-old played a major role in the team's Championship winning season back in 2016.

Lakers willing to trade away their young core

Cleveland Cavaliers v Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have been extremely reluctant to include their young players in recent trade talks, however, The Athletic is reporting that the team is now open to discussing trades for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma:

The second is obviously the priority, even if it means parting with some combination of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma. Ideally, the Lakers would be able to land a second star in free agency and keep the core intact. However, with Anthony Davis unlikely to become available by the deadline, that particular dilemma may be a moot point this season.

Both Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma were first round picks in the 2017 NBA draft, and the duo have been regular starters for the team so far this season. Meanwhile, Brandon Ingram was selected by the Lakers with the second pick of the 2016 draft, and during his three seasons with the team, the 21-year-old has averaged 13.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.