Sources: Ellington returns to Heat on 1-year deal

The Los Angeles Lakers are known to be looking for upgrades on the trade market. A particular area of interest seems to be in adding to the backcourt.

Two players the Lakers might target are Tyus Jones of the Washington Wizards and Collin Sexton of the Utah Jazz. Jones is known to be available, while Sexton’s status is more unclear due to Utah’s recent run of strong play.

Jones in on an expiring $14 million contract. The Wizards are in the first season of what looks to be a multi-year rebuild. Jones has started all 39 games for Washington this season. He’s averaging career-highs nearly across the board with 12.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 52% from the field and 42% from behind the arc.

Sexton is making $17.3 million this season and has $37.1 million left on his deal through 2025-26. The Jazz have won six games in a row and 12 of their last 14 games. It’s unclear if Utah will want to move Sexton, who has been a key scorer since moving into the starting lineup in mid-December.

Nikola Jokic has won back-to-back NBA MVPs, so he likely thinks Tuesday’s MVP announcement isn’t that big of a deal. However, Jokic is completely unmoved by the entire thing.

When asked about the MVP announcement, Jokic said he has “zero interest” and that “It is what it is.”

Jokic was pressed about what he’d be doing when the award was announced and he said he hoped to be relaxing. “Hopefully it’s gonna be a sunny day so I can be in the swimming pool.”