Lakers Trade Rumours: 3 players that could leave the Lakers before the trade deadline

The NBA trade deadline will close next week ahead of the annual NBA All-Star Event in North Carolina. In previous years, the trade window has closed after the All-Star Game, although the NBA has moved the deadline forward in recent years so that traded players can sort out arrangements for both themselves and their families.

Due to this, NBA fans can expect an influx of trades in the next seven days, and the Los Angeles Lakers are set to be among the most active teams.

The Lakers have recently slipped out of the Western Conference playoff spots, although LeBron James has finally returned from injury. With LeBron back, the Lakers will be looking to give the superstar more help ahead of the deadline.

In order to facilitate a trade, a number of the current Lakers roster will have to make way, and here we will look at three members of Luke Walton's roster who could be sacrificed.

#3 Lonzo Ball

Reports last week claimed that the Lakers were finally willing to trade away one of their much talked about young core. While the trio of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma were all mentioned, there is no denying that Ball's position is in the most danger.

The Lakers already have Rajon Rondo on the roster, and just last month, Ken Berger reported that the Lakers considered trading Ball in December:

At one point a month ago, they were dangling Lonzo [Ball] a little bit

Nevertheless, the Lakers are now more desperate for additions than they were back in December, and Rondo has impressed immensely since his return.

While the Lakers won't want to lose Ball ahead of the summer, it is possible that someone such as Kemba Walker could become available in the final days of the market, and the Lakers would be willing to sacrifice Ball if it meant acquiring a second All-Star.

#2 Ivica Zubac

In the midst of a number of the Lakers' most prominent names being linked with a trade, the team's third choice center is reportedly attracting interest. Ivica Zubac has played just 31 games this season, although the LA Times is reporting that NBA scouts believe that Zubac could move on before the deadline:

The 7 foot 1-inch Zubac has intrigued scouts with his soft hands and effectiveness in the pick-and-roll offense...He’s precisely the kind of player a team could ask for late in trade talks, good enough and inexpensive enough for a team to acquire, yet not meaningful enough for the Lakers to kill a major trade.

Zubac was selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2016 draft, and this season he is averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Nevertheless, the Lakers are known to be targeting a center such as Anthony Davis, and therefore, the Croat's future lies away from Los Angeles.

#1 Josh Hart

During the early stages of the 18/19 season, Josh Hart established himself as one of the Lakers' most important players.

The 23-year-old was offering steel at the defensive end while also posing a threat from beyond the arc. Hart impressed enough in the early stages of the season for the Lakers to keep him out of trade talks for Trevor Ariza, however, Ken Burger has reported that the team would now be willing to trade the shooting guard:

Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac and Moritz Wagner are available, rival executives say, while pretty much everyone else is off the table

Hart contributed just 2 points in 21 minutes of action during last night's win over the Clippers, and the American has seemingly lost his place in Luke Walton's starting lineup.

The Lakers will want to keep hold of Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram in order to make a trade offer for Anthony Davis, so Hart is likely to be used as trade bait before the trade deadline.