Los Angeles Lakers Trade Rumors: Norris Cole May Be Headed To The Lakers
According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in picking up a free agent point guard who can give them depth and add some playoff experience to the extremely young point guards of the Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, he would be one of the few players on the Los Angeles Lakers to ever play in the postseason, especially after the loss of Carlos Boozer to free agency.
The Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing free agent point guard Norris Cole, who last played for the New Orleans Pelicans. Cole is a restricted free agent and can match all of his offers, but Pro Basketball Talk reports that the Pelicans are also looking to sign Jason Terry. While Cole could still get minutes if they were to sign Terry, they would be more limited, and their backcourt would definitely be crowded with Jrue Holiday there as well.
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers have interest in Cole as well, per Amico.
The Knicks already have a veteran and a young point guard, in Jose Calderon and and Jerian Grant respectively.
The Houston Rockets might also be a potential landing spot for Cole, since they need to look for depth behind Ty Lawson and Patrick Beverley. Beverley has been dealing with injury problems and Lawson has off-the-field issues to fix. Meaning that Cole could be looking at some extended playing time if he were to go to Houston.
The Los Angeles Lakers would be a perfect fit, since the team is looking to add depth in the way of veterans behind young players Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell. Norris Cole is used to a role as a bench player, as he excelled in that role during multiple playoff runs with the Miami Heat a few years ago. Speaking of the Heat, there had been a trade rumored to be brewing between Los Angeles and Miami involving Mario Chalmers, but Chalmers may expect more playing time. In his career, Cole has averaged 6.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in just 22.2 minutes per game.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the Los Angeles Lakers have been working out Bobby Brown. While Brown has not played in the NBA for a few years, he could add the point guard depth that the team is looking for, meaning they would no longer have a need to acquire Norris Cole.
Do you think the Los Angeles Lakers will make a transaction in order to acquire Norris Cole? If not, what other moves do you see the Los Angeles Lakers making before the NBA season begins in October?
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