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The Lakers have a clear need for athleticism across the floor and, particularly, on the perimeter. It’s something that was apparent even at the trade deadline and could be seen in the players the team was targeting.
There were a ton of other players they were connected to, like Keon Ellis, that they couldn’t pick up at the deadline. In the end, Ellis was traded to the Cavaliers. However, his time in Cleveland wasn’t exactly a great experience. In the playoffs, he was ineffective and non-existent.
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Ellis played beyond 10 minutes only once in the postseason, did not play multiple times and provided nothing offensively. He went 5-15 from the field, scoring just 19 points across eight games and had a plus-minus of -31.
Now that the season is over, the Cavaliers have some tough decisions to make. As a second-apron team, money is going to be tight. Ellis was already set for free agency and, after underperforming, it looks unlikely Cleveland is going to retain him.
In a recent article, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Ellis likely being the odd man out with the Cavs.
The most pressing piece of roster business in Cleveland, outside of the Cavaliers ironing out a future agreement with James Harden, will come down to its decisions on Dean Wade and Keon Ellis as they seek to move out of the second apron.
Sources say that team officials already concede behind the scenes that it will be extremely difficult to keep both players. My early read: The priority is likely going to be bringing back Wade, who started a career-high 38 games this season and has been one of Cleveland’s top point-of-attack defenders as a jumbo-sized swingman.
This could be exactly the kind of opportunity the Lakers could take advantage of. They have more cap space than most teams this offseason, and they can pick up quality players other teams can’t retain due to the apron restrictions.
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And considering the down postseason Ellis had, there’s a chance for LA to buy low on Ellis as Fisher detailed later in his report.
Ellis’ market, meanwhile, has seemingly taken a bit of a hit since February, when league sources say…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-trade-deadline-target-could-191738235.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-11 19:17:00
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