NBA trade news: Lakers could sign TWO superstars to team with LeBron James

That is according to The Ringer’s Paolo Uggetti.

The Lakers have had a shocking season given their pre-season expectations, and are set to miss out on the playoffs.

After a disastrous defeat on Sunday against the New York Knicks, Los Angeles are nine games back from the playoffs with 12 games remaining, meaning reaching the postseason is virtually impossible.

President of basketball operations Magic Johnson is under pressure from fans to secure a big acquisition in the offseason, with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard all linked with a move to Los Angeles.

However, with the playoffs unlikely, it is expected that they will have difficulty drawing star players to the Staples Center.

February saw a failed trade swoop for Anthony Davis crash and burn, and it is possible that they will miss out on him again in the summer to the Boston Celtics.

And Uggetti explained that the Lakers need to do something big, and could even end up with Jimmy Butler of the Philadelphia 76ers, who is a free agent this summer.

“The plan is to trade for a superstar and then sign another in free agency,” Uggetti said.

“But as the year has gone on, you get more of those sort of certainties before actual free agency.

“For example, if KD leaves the Warriors, he’s not going to LA, and if Kyrie leaves, he’s probably not going to LA, if Kawhi leaves then he’s probably not going to LA.

“So you start seeing these options fall off the board, and I just don’t see what they’re going to do.

“They’re probably going to get Jimmy Butler, if they can get Jimmy Butler and still somehow trade for Anthony Davis, or even sit and wait to sign him in free agency then I guess that’s okay.”

Durant and Irving are expected to head to the New York Knicks this summer, meaning the Lakers would be losing out on two players they have been heavily linked with.

And while Leonard making a move to Los Angeles is likely, it is rumoured that he is keen on signing with the LA Clippers over the Lakers.

source: express.co.uk