LA Lakers Rumors Roundup: Lakers interested in 10-year veteran swingman, optimism in team locker room despite 0-2 start and more | October 22, 2022
The LA Lakers are off to a bad start to the season, losing their first two games against the Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers. The front office is already looking to sign reinforcements, bringing in a 10-year veteran for a workout.
Meanwhile, the Lakers locker room is feeling optimistic despite their shooting woes. They were lackluster in their first game of the season, but put on a better performance against the Clippers.
Here is the latest LA Lakers rumors roundup for Oct. 22 brought to you by Sportskeeda.
LA Lakers interested in signing Maurice 'Moe' Harkless
The LA Lakers' main needs for the season are outside shooting and perimeter defense. Their front office is ready to add a swingman in the form of a 10-year NBA veteran, Maurice "Moe" Harkless.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported in his latest Substack piece that the Lakers are interested in Harkless. The 29-year-old forward is not a lethal shooter, but he is a capable perimeter defender. The Lakers' current starting lineup has three guards in Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley and Lonnie Walker IV.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Lakers had already brought Harkless to a workout. Harkless was traded three times in the offseason from the Sacramento Kings to the Atlanta Hawks, OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets. He was waived by the Rockets two weeks ago.
Lakers hold free-agent workout and meeting with a 10-year NBA veteran – details: https://t.co/BHUZOtiCyA
LA Lakers share optimism in locker room despite the 0-2 start
The LA Lakers are 19-for-45 from beyond the arc in their first two games of the season. Despite their early problems, the team's locker room is full of optimism. Lonnie Walker IV shared the sentiment in a postgame interview after their loss on Thursday.
"We're right there," Walker said. "I think even though we lost today, there was a bit of optimism in the locker room. We've only been playing together for a few weeks. And our last two teams that we played against have been playing together for the last four to five years.
"So that speaks a lot of volume to how we’ve been playing. We just got to continue to stack the days and trust in the system, trust in our teammates and play the way we play."
LeBron James and coach Darvin Ham shared the same sentiment in their respective postgame interviews. James and Ham praised the team's overall defense against the Lakers. They acknowledged their struggles from beyond the arc, but remain confident of finding their shooting touch.
Draymond Green linked to the LA Lakers again
The LA Lakers had previously been linked to Draymond Green when a video of him punching Jordan Poole went public. The Golden State Warriors were adamant that Green is not available for a trade, but the rumors still link him to the Lakers.
An anonymous Western Conference executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy.com that the Lakers could be interested in signing Green in free agency. The former Defensive Player of the Year has a player option next season, and his friendship with LeBron James has been very public.
"They like Draymond. LeBron wants Draymond. And Draymond has been following LeBron around like a puppy dog these last couple of years," the executive said. "But I can't see them giving up those two picks for him, not at his age and not with him being a free agent next summer anyway."