Lakers Rumors: Former No. 1 pick reportedly being pursued by Rob Pelinka and co.

The LA Lakers are searching for answers after losing seven of their last 10 games. With LeBron James struggling to find his rhythm and the team sitting in eighth place in a competitive Western Conference, the team is exploring a number of options leading up to February's trade deadline.

In addition to working on a potential trade with the Washington Wizards for Jonas Valenciunas, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka is also reportedly interested in former No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz.

While the team is preparing for Valenciunas to become trade-eligible on Dec. 15, Fultz has remained a free agent. Fultz's numbers from the 2023-24 season with the Orlando Magic showed a drop compared to the season before. ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin reported that internal conversations are being had:

“Per sources, the Lakers have had internal conversations about Fultz, the former first-overall pick who hasn't lived up to his draft position but was solid last season playing for the Orlando Magic.”

With Gabe Vincent expected to be part of a deal for Valenciunas, the Lakers could look to replace him with Fultz, who, despite injuries, has averaged 11.1 points per game throughout his career.

Looking at how Fultz fits with the Lakers as the team mulls over potential signing

While trading for Valenciunas appears to be a move with a clear upside for LA, signing Fultz could be a riskier move.

Throughout his career, Fultz has only played more than 60 games twice. During the 2019-20 season, he played 72 games, while in the 2022-23 season, he started in all 60 games he played. With shoulder problems and a torn ACL, Fultz's career has primarily been defined by injuries.

Despite that, what makes him a good fit for the Lakers is his ball-handling abilities and his defensive abilities. Throughout his career, Fultz has averaged more than one steal per game in five of his seven seasons. Additionally, he's also a career 4.6 apg guard who has logged more than five assists per game in four of his seven seasons.

In addition to his injury woes, Fultz has also struggled with his 3-point shot. Last season, he shot just 22.2% from downtown, a number below his already dismal 27.4% career average.

Despite that, if the team winds up parting ways with Vincent in a Valenciunas trade, signing Fultz to a team-friendly deal could fill the gap left by Vincent in a cost-efficient way without putting the team up against the second apron.

With Valenciunas eligible to be traded on Dec. 15, once the first domino falls, the Lakers could make several moves in rapid succession to position themselves for a deep playoff run.