Lakers Rumors: LA Looking To Trade Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle?

The Los Angeles Lakers may soon move two of their more promising young players as they look to clear up enough salary-cap space to land experienced talent during the summer's free agent market.

The team would "love" to ship out Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle and both players know they were included in trades talks by the Lakers front office, Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times reported. Clarkson and Randle have spent four seasons with the team, but the Lakers are looking to go another route.

The Lakers are currently in last place in the Western Conference and have the second-worst record in the NBA.

"You would be lying to say that there are guys that are not frustrated on this team," veteran big man Andrew Bogut told the Times. "Everyone knows what is going on with the salary cap situation next season and all that. That is just distractions that we can’t let affect us. That is part of the league, the business decisions that front offices and coaches make. So if that is distracting guys, that is going to be like that your whole career — that is just the nature of this league."

Randle, 23, and Clarkson, 25, came into the league together in 2014 and were part of the Lakers core group of young players during the organization's rebuilding process.

Clarkson is averaging 23.3 points in scoring per 48 minutes and has shot 34.6 percent from beyond the arc. The combo guard has started just two games this season despite being third in scoring (14.4). He is owed $11.6 million this season and $12.5 million through the 2018-19 season.

Randle, a restricted free agent, has seen his minutes drop from 28.8 last season to 22.6 this season. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com, he and the Lakers could not agree to a contract extension last October despite negotiations. Randle is averaging 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while shooting a career-high 54.9 percent from the field.

Randle is considered a valuable asset. The 23-year-old has improved his game and has reportedly drawn interest from teams like the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers have until the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 8, to make a deal.

There have been reports that the Lakers plan on pursuing free agents LeBron James and Paul George in the summer.