National Basketball Association

Report: Lakers have expressed interest in Pistons' Monroe, Jennings

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:36 a.m. ET

Jovan Buha

Despite having virtually no shot at making a playoff push, the Los Angeles Lakers have yet to give up on their season, and have been in talks with a couple teams in hopes of acquiring key pieces over the last month.

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the Lakers recently inquired about guard Brandon Jennings and forward-center Greg Monroe of the Detroit Pistons, among others:

Monroe, 24, is averaging 15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 48.8 percent shooting this season. He makes sense as a long-term fit for the Lakers, as their frontcourt has no clear-cut hierarchy, and Monroe has been a borderline All-Star over the last few seasons.

The only issue in acquiring him is that he's an unrestricted free agent, and is likely to test the market. Though it's unclear how much money Monroe will command, it's expected to be in the $12 to $15 million range.

Jennings, 25, is averaging 14.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists on just 40.5 percent shooting. The ball-dominant point guard is not a natural fit with the Lakers -- especially alongside Kobe Bryant -- but he's probably the cost of acquiring Monroe, and he's better than Jeremy Lin and Ronnie Price. Jennings has one year left on his current contract at $8.3 million.

The Lakers, who stand at just 12-26 near the midway point of the season, are better off tanking the rest of the way and keeping their 2015 first-round draft pick, which goes to the Phoenix Suns if it falls outside the top five.

However, the team maintains its stance that it's an organization that refuses to tank, and a potential trade for Monroe and/or Jennings would certainly support that notion.