Recent trade rumors have emerged that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has become one of the 2017 trade targets of the Los Angeles Lakers.
There were also reports that said the Lakers might also target him in next summer's free-agency if they will not be able to snag him before the NBA's trade deadline in February next year.
The 24-year-old Frenchman is entering the final year of his four-year, $5.5 million rookie contract, which means that he will become a restricted free agent during the 2017 offseason. It would be much harder for the Lakers to acquire him at that time as the Jazz will have the option to match whatever LA offers.
Thus, trade rumors are out that the Hollywood squad might just try to land him via a trade this coming season.
Fansided reported that the Lakers "are invested in upgrading the frontcourt" and pursuing Gobert is just natural as he is "one of the game's top rim protectors right now".
The report noted, though, that the "problem is determining how much money it will cost to get him away from" the Jazz. Although money was never a problem for the Lakers, restricted free-agency is, and so getting him thru a trade deal would be the better option.
LA has the advantage of being the bigger market team which could sway Gobert to join them. The 7-foot-1, 245-pound behemoth will have a much easier time to build his brand in Hollywood than anywhere else, except with the New York Knicks.
Also, the Lakers has a young core that will complement Gobert and they could grow well together to become one of the league's title contenders in the future.
Meanwhile, Morning News USA indicated that Gobert will "likely choose the Lakers over the Jazz and other potential suitors" even as the article also noted that there will surely be a lot of interested teams in the Frenchman once he becomes available via free-agency next summer.
Gobert had his best scoring season in 2015-2016, his third in the NBA and the Jazz, as he averaged 9.1 points by shooting almost 60 percent from the field. He also had career-high averages in rebounds and assists with 11.0 and 1.5 playing in 31.7 minutes per game for head coach Quin Snyder last season.
