Lakers in talks with Trail Blazers regarding trade for Raymond Felton

The Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers have engaged in “exploratory talks” about a trade that would send point guard Raymond Felton from Portland to L.A.

The Lakers’ interest in Felton has been reported and their need to upgrade at point guard is clear.

The potential deal with the Blazers would like involve Steve Blake going to Portland.

Felton has fallen out of favor in Portland, as coach Nate McMillan pulled him from the starting lineup before the All-Star break, replacing him with Jamal Crawford. Felton is averaging career lows in points per game (9.7), field-goal percentage (.368), 3-point percentage (.246) and rebounds (2.1).

But Felton said he expects to be back in the starting five as soon as Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Hornets.

“We talked about it, and (McMillan) said definitely he was going to go back to that,” Felton said, according to The Oregonian. “So whenever he decides to do it, we’ll see.”