Don't look now, but the NBA trade deadline is less than three weeks away. Role players and stars alike will be swapping teams between now and then, but like any

Los Angeles could dangle future draft picks to entice opposing teams. Lakers insider Jovan Buha, however, said the squad is unlikely to give up a first-round pick.

Los Angeles Lakers sixth man small forward Dorian Finney-Smith has been ruled out for what would have been his first clash with his last team, the Brooklyn Nets

Will the Brooklyn Nets' best player suit up against recent former teammates Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton and the rest of their Los Angeles Lakers on Friday? More Lakers: Los Angeles Western Conference Rival Waives Former Lakers Center That is the question no doubt plaguing the minds of the Lakers' coaching staff this morning.

JJ Redick revealed his expectations for facing D'Angelo Russell ahead of Friday's Nets-Lakers matchup at Crypto.com Arena.

The Nets will be short-handed for this game, especially since guard Cam Thomas, who leads them with 24.7 points a game this season, won't play. A healthy Nets team could be competitive against the Lakers, but a short-handed one likely won't.

Point-spread: Nets (+11.5) Over/Under: 216.5 Nets : OUT: Bojan Bogdanovic (foot), Maxwell Lewis (tibia), De’Anthony Melton (knee), Cam Thomas (hamstring), Trendon Watford (hamstring), and Dariq Whitehead (G League). QUESTIONABLE: Cam Johnson (ankle).

The Los Angeles Lakers get their first look at D’Angelo Russell back at Crypto.com Arena, but this time in a different uniform, as they host the Brooklyn Nets seeking to stay in the top six in the Western Conference.