NBA Trade Rumors: 3 Players the Los Angeles Lakers need to avoid ahead of the trade deadline

As the Los Angeles Lakers entered their Christmas day game against the Golden State Warriors, Luke Walton's team were battling to finish in the top four of the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The Lakers went on to blow away the Warriors on prime time television, however, during the game LeBron James suffered a groin injury, and without the NBA's best player, the Lakers have since fallen out of the playoff places.

After a six week absence, LeBron has finally returned and the Lakers still have an outside shot at reaching the postseason. Nevertheless, the Lakers' ability to make the playoffs may depend on their business dealings in the next 40 hours, as the NBA trade deadline will kick into effect on Thursday at 3 pm (Eastern Time). Arrivals are likely, although here we will look at three players that the Lakers should avoid.

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#3 Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis - Detroit Pistons v New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis is evidently the man whom the Lakers need for the future, however, the franchise has already done everything in their power to acquire him this month, and it is now time to wait until the summer. According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers offered the huge package Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and Ivica Zubac, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and two-first round draft picks in return for Davis.

Some reports have claimed that the Pelicans wanted additional draft picks included, however, the Lakers have already offered their entire young core, and a trade is evidently not going to happen this week. The Boston Celtics won't be able to offer the Pelicans a better trade package during the 2019 offseason, and it is now a case of the Lakers waiting until the summer.

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#2 Nikola Vucevic

Orlando Magic v Denver Nuggets

Last week, Nikola Vucevic became the first Orlando Magic player since Dwight Howard to be named to the All-Star roster. Vucevic was named an All-Star for the first time in his career after enjoying the best individual season of his career to date, in which the 28-year-old has averaged 20.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

Nevertheless, the Montenegrin center is set to become a free agent in the summer and the Lakers have been linked with a late move for the All-Star. Despite this, the Magic are still hopeful of convincing Vucevic to sign a contract extension with the team, and Orlando is likely to demand at least one member of the Lakers' young core in return for their star player.

While Vucevic would be a great addition until the end of the season, a deal would be short-sighted, and the Lakers should steer clear due to the Magic's asking price.

#1 Kevin Love

Cleveland Cavaliers v Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love and LeBron James spent four successful years together in Cleveland, and ever since LeBron left for the purple and gold of Los Angeles, a future reunion between the All-Star duo has been muted.

Despite signing a new contract less than 8 months ago, Love's days in Cleveland already appear numbered, as the team is currently undergoing a major rebuild. Love increasingly looks like a relic of Cleveland's past, and the team is reportedly open to offers for the player who helped the team win the 2016 Championship.

There is little doubt that Love is one the best player's that the Lakers could acquire before the trade window closes, however, Love is already the wrong side of 30 and it has already been proven that the duo of Love and LeBron can't defeat the Warriors. Ultimately, the Lakers need to look towards younger targets as they build for the future.