LA Lakers Rumors: NBA executive thinks Kendrick Nunn is the Lakers' best trade asset

The LA Lakers are just two games behind the final play-in tournament spot halfway through the season. They might need to make a trade ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline and Kendrick Nunn might be the team's best asset. Nunn has been playing well recently due to injuries to Austin Reaves and Lonnie Walker IV.

An NBA executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports that Nunn getting minutes could help increase his value. The exec added that the 27-year-old guard is the Lakers' best trade chip, along with Patrick Beverley, while Russell Westbrook has been fantastic as their sixth man.

"He could help someone, but they need to show he is healthy," the executive said. "He's got a very manageable contract and they're dying for size on that team. They're not going to trade LeBron (James) or Anthony Davis obviously.

"So the best package they can put out there is Nunn and (Patrick) Beverley and one of their picks. Honestly, he is their best trade piece right now."

Kendrick Nunn has played in 37 games this season after not playing any last season due to a knee injury. Nunn is averaging 11.0 points per game since Jan. 1, while shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.

The undrafted guard signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the LA Lakers in the summer of 2021. He will be a free agent at the end of the season. He started his professional career with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League.

The Miami Heat signed Nunn before the 2019-20 season and he made a name for himself. He averaged 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his rookie year, earning All-Rookie First Team honors. He became a free agent after his second season in South Beach.

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LA Lakers among interested teams in Cam Reddish

The LA Lakers are interested in Cam Reddish.

The LA Lakers might need to acquire more shooting if they want to improve their chances of making the playoffs. Shooters cost a lot in the trade market, but the Lakers are one of the interested teams in Cam Reddish of the New York Knicks, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

Reddish, who has been out of the Knicks' rotation since December, is expected to be traded ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline. New York were demanding a first-round pick for him earlier in the season, but that has been downgraded to a second-round pick.

The former 10th overall pick is averaging 8.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists this season. He's also shooting 30.4% from beyond the arc, but his career percentage is at 32.3%.