NBA Rumours: 3 players being linked with a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers

The 2019 playoffs have been among the most memorable in recent memory, although the postseason has played out without the NBA's biggest star. Entering the 18/19 season, LeBron James had been to the NBA Finals in eight consecutive seasons. Following a disappointing first season in Los Angeles though, LeBron missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Nevertheless, the Lakers will have around $35m available in cap space this summer and they are expected to pursue a number of the NBA's biggest stars. With this in mind, there are no shortage of Laker rumours circling the league and here are three of those stars being currently linked with a move to LA this summer:

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook has spent his entire career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, becoming the face of the franchise during its first decade of existence. During his 11 years with the team, Westbrook has won an MVP award, led the league in scoring, and averaged a historic triple-double over three consecutive seasons.

However, the 30-year-old has yet to guide the Thunder to a championship, and following a third-consecutive first-round playoff exit, Westbrook has been linked with a trade to the Lakers:

Of course the main team interested in Westbrook if he is indeed put on the market would be the Lakers, as Westbrook is a Los Angeles native and the purple and gold have been fascinated with the prospect of landing him in a trade. The Lakers would need to part with nearly all of their young chips in order to land a player of Westbrook's ilk.

Westbrook still has four years remaining on a five-year, $205million contract extension that he signed back in 2017.

Anthony Davis

The Lakers offered nearly their entire roster in an attempt to complete a trade for Anthony Davis back in February, although the New Orleans Pelicans resisted. However, the Lakers managed to unexpectedly land the fourth pick of the upcoming NBA draft, and multiple reports have stated that LA would be willing to include the pick in a deal for Davis. Speaking on the subject, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes had the following to say:

I would be very surprised if that fourth pick - first of all, I'd be surprised if they picked that, make that pick, then I'd be surprised if that pick is on their roster come the 2019-20 season.

Reports have suggested that Davis still wants to depart the Pelicans despite the impending arrival of Zion Williamson, and few around the NBA doubt that the Lakers will return with another offer for the New Orleans All-Star.

Bradley Beal

Anthony Davis remains the Lakers' prime trade target this summer, although, with a deal less than certain, LA still have backup options. Bradley Beal is a player that has previously been linked with a move to the Lakers, and Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes believes they could complete a deal by offering Brandon Ingram:

The Wizards can't move Wall's albatross contract, so Beal is the guy to go if they're aiming for a rebuild. Just 26 next season, he's hardly past his prime, but cutting the $55.8 million he's owed over the next two years could create valuable wiggle room.

In Ingram, the Wizards would get a potential star who seemed to take a leap in the second half of the 2018-19 season before deep venous thrombosis in his right arm ended the breakout early. The gap between Ingram and Beal is substantial, though, which is why Washington should insist upon getting a bump up the draft order in the bargain.

Beal has spent his entire career with the Wizards, and he averaged 25.6 points and 5.5 assists per game during the 18/19 season.