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Report: Lakers unlikely to make deadline deal

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Despite being loosely attached to names like Ty Lawson and Goran Dragic, the Los Angeles Lakers may not be more than an afterthought at the trade deadline on Thursday.

With the team short on assets to deal and flush with cap space to make a splash this summer, it's unlikely the Lakers will make a deal before 3 p.m. ET, according to a report from Mark Medina of LA Daily News. The team remains active in talks but are hesitant to sacrifice any picks - they could have two this June with some lottery luck - or flexibility for this summer.

While the Lakers are interested in Dragic, who has requested a trade from the Phoenix Suns, it makes more sense for the Lakers to try to land him as an unrestricted free agent this summer. Lawson, who is said to be on the block, too, is a nice piece but may not move the needle enough for the Lakers to change course from their 2015-16 plans.

Beyond their hesitance to deal picks or absorb significant future salary, the Lakers are also reluctant to deal Jordan Clarkson or Julius Randle, according to Medina. They've found little traction in shopping Jeremy Lin, Wayne Ellington and Nick Young, which is hardly surprising. Jordan Hill's salary may be too large for a team to absorb, even though they could decline his 2015-16 player option, and moving Ed Davis, while potentially attractive to contenders, may not bring much back.

Oddsmakers see the Lakers as more likely than not to make a trade, regardless of what reports out of Staples Center may indicate.

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