According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Los Angeles Lakers are among the teams interested in trading for Detroit Pistons forward Danilo Gallinari.
The Washington Wizards traded Gallinari to the Pistons on January 14. Gallinari is making $6.8 million this season in the final year of his deal.
“Another player rival executives are monitoring is Danilo Gallinari who’s continued to be a knockdown 3-point shooter while playing minutes at the four and small ball five at times in the final year of his contract,” Scotto wrote. “The Lakers are among the teams who’ve checked in on Gallinari’s price tag to acquire him, league sources told HoopsHype.”
Gallinari is averaging 7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.1 blocks this season while shooting 44.7% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 85.0% from the free-throw line. The veteran is 35 years old.
The Lakers are 26-25 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. LAL is 28th in the NBA in 3-point field goals. Gallinari is a career 38.2% shooter from deep, so he projects to be a good fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Gallinari has career averages of 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, Wizards and Pistons. He has suffered two ACL injuries, so that is something teams will certainly keep in mind.
The Pistons have the worst record in the NBA at 6-43. There’s no point for the team to keep Gallinari, who is better suited to play for a playoff team. It will be interesting to see if Detroit trades Gallinari before the NBA trade deadline, which is on February 8.
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