Every year when the trade deadline approaches, the Lakers are in the conversation. This season was no different. With the Giannis sweepstakes ramping up before the deadline, it looked like LA was in that mix over the social media waves. However, we must always remember to take the social media hot takes and rumors with a grain of salt sometimes.
For one, no one expected for Luke Kennard to be a trade target and if they did, it wasn’t the talk of Laker Land. This is exactly what transpired as the deadline approached on Tuesday however.
Gabe Vincent was traded to the Atlanta Hawks along with a 2032 second-round pick for Luke Kennard. Kennard, a veteran with an expiring contract provides some much needed shooting from the outside for the time being. Will he remain with the team beyond this season? It may seem unlikely or too early to tell right now but at least the Lakers have picked up another weapon that will immediately be needed from three point land.
The Philadelphia 76ers made two trades to their personnel this deadline by sending Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a 2026 1st-round pick via Houston, 2027 2nd-round pick, 2028 2nd-round pick via Milwaukee and a 2028 2nd-round pick via Oklahoma City. McCain was the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Once fully healthy, the Thunder will have added another great young player that they can develop around an already strong young core. They also sent Eric Gordon and a 2032 2nd-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies for the rights to Small Forward Justinian Jessup, who most recently played for FC Bayern Munich in the Euro League.
Both teams look to not fall in the standings before the All-Star break coming up. The Sixers (29-21) come into Crypto.com Arena currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings while the Lakers (30-19) look to continue where they left off in Brooklyn and climb out of sixth place in the West.
Gameday Information:
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 • 7 p.m. PST
Crypto.com Arena • Los Angeles, CA.
City Champs Media 