NBA Trade Rumors Roundup, January 20th: Beal to the Celtics, Lonzo Ball trade news and more

We have now passed the halfway point of the 2018/19 NBA season, and teams are starting to get a good idea about where they currently stand. Up until this point, both Conferences have remained competitive, with eleven teams in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, whereas every team except the Phoenix Suns has a shot in the West.

The February trade deadline is also quickly approaching, as the NBA has made changes to the deadline so that it will now always occur 10 days before the All-Star game. This has been done so that players who get traded have time to settle into their new teams, and this year's trade window will close on February 7th.

So with the deadline just three weeks away, here are the biggest trade rumors you need to know for January 20th.

Lonzo Ball won't be traded by the Lakers this month

Lonzo Ball's future in Los Angeles has been the subject of intense speculation ever since the Lakers acquired Rajon Rondo last summer. Nevertheless, Ball has managed to retain his place in Luke Walton's lineup, and Bleacher Report is reporting that Ball will be staying in LA this month:

In the West, the Lakers have to be part of the conversation because of the LeBron James factor, though it's not clear to rival executives whom they're willing to trade in any deal and whom they aren't. "At one point a month ago, they were dangling Lonzo a little bit, but now they don't want to trade him," one of the execs said.

Lonzo Ball was selected by the Lakers with the second overall pick of the 2017 draft. In his rookie season, the point guard was named to the All-Rookie second team, and so far this season, Ball is averaging 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.