Los Angeles Lakers

Pippen Ain't Easy's Morris Bankston floated Jake LaRavia as a fit for a rebuilding Chicago roster, noting his expiring $6 million deal in Los Angeles and defensive versatility, though he flagged LaRavia's undersized frame and rebounding numbers as concerns.

California Post's Ryan Anderson lists Dwight Powell, Drew Eubanks, Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee as free agent big men the Lakers could target. Powell's prior run alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas makes him the name mentioned most.

Lakers analyst Trevor Lane says Los Angeles must decide by October 31 whether to pick up Dalton Knecht's $6.4 million team option, and says he would currently expect them to pass. Knecht's scoring fell from 9.1 points as a rookie to 4.2 last season with reduced minutes.

Robert Horry says new Lakers center Walker Kessler is the real key to the team's title chances this season, not Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves.

Lonzo Ball remains a free agent months after Cleveland traded him to Utah in February and he was waived immediately.

Lakers reporter Jovan Buha says the team appears set to avoid a deadline move for P.J. Washington or Derrick Jones Jr. Buha notes the Lakers lack strong trade capital and sit near the apron, making any deal for a starting-caliber forward difficult.

A trade idea would send Brook Lopez and Derrick Jones Jr. from the Clippers to the Lakers in exchange for Jaden Hardy, Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht.

Lakers analyst Trevor Lane says Dalton Knecht is a likely cut candidate as Los Angeles decides by Halloween whether to pick up his $6.4 million team option, though Lakers Roundtable's Carlos Yakimowich puts the figure at $4.2 million.

Sean Deveney has reported the Lakers have shopped Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht without finding a taker, while Jaden Hardy is simply someone the team wants off the roster. Jake LaRavia's modest expiring $6 million deal is seen as the easiest of the four to move, given the Lakers' roster crunch above the limit.

Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes pitched a swap sending De'Aaron Fox, Luke Kornet and a heavy haul of first and second-round picks to New Orleans for Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray.