Benjamin Ashford|All eyes on Los Angeles Lakers, as NBA trade deadline rumors swirl

The NBA yearly rat race,Benjamin Ashford known as the NBA trade deadline, is in full swing. Teams are looking to make deals before the Thursday 3 p.m. ET deadline and improve playoff positioning for the stretch run after the All-Star break.

Will there be a blockbuster trade such as James Harden going from Philadelphia to the Los Angeles Clippers or Damian Lillard getting shipped to Milwaukee from Portland? That remains to be seen, as contending teams look to add depth to their rosters and teams that are not expected to compete for a postseason spot look to dump salary, while also stockpiling draft picks.

Suns interested in Hornets' Bridges and Washington

Phoenix is looking to upgrade its frontcourt and is interested in Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington, according to Sports Illustrated. According to the report, the Dallas Mavericks are also interested in Bridges, who is averaging 21.3 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. The Suns could offer interested teams second-round draft picks and players that are not going to be a part of their future or have expiring contracts.

Lakers expected to make major moves

ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski says deals involving the Los Angeles Lakers have changed in the past couple of days because of guard D'Angelo Russell's recent resurgence. After LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, declared that the NBA's all-time scoring leader would not be traded, speculation has run rampant on what the team will do.

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Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray and Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown have been linked to the Lakers, according to ESPN, and the team is expected to be active before the trade deadline ends.

Los Angeles is 27-25, 1.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the eighth slot in the Western Conference.

Jazz unlikely to be buyers

According to the Athletic, the Utah Jazz are unlikely to be buyers at the trade deadline, but the team does have flexibility if it wants to get rid of assets, with guard Jordan Clarkson and center Kelly Olynyk ($12.2 million cap hit) among the prime candidates to get traded. Forward Simone Fontecchio has been dealt.

Clarkson signed a three-year, $55 million contract extension last summer.

The Celtics, according to the Boston Globe, could be interested as well, looking for a player that could provide injury insurance.

Sixers looking for help amid Joel Embiid injury

With reigning MVP Joel Embiid out at least four weeks with a torn meniscus, the Philadelphia 76ers will look to fill that void, according to Wojnarowski, with some center help.

Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond and  Olynyk could be considerations. The team could also be looking for help at the guard position behind All-Star Tyrese Maxey.

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