The NBA trade market for the Los Angeles Lakers has not been good, and the franchise is now the NBA’s second-winningest team after the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games at the 2024 NBA Finals. But, despite the recent dethroning, the Lakers remain one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA.
The Lakers have drawn mixed emotions from fans and media members alike during the 2023-24 NBA season. Los Angeles won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament by defeating the Indiana Pacers in the tournament championship game at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. LeBron James was subsequently named the tournament MVP.
James scored 24 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. But LA finished the regular season with a 47-35 record, defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in the Play-In Tournament to make the playoffs as a seventh seed, and ultimately lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games in the First Round.
The Lakers’ 2024 NBA trade market isn’t looking good. Here are three reasons why.
No NBA Players Want To Play for the Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the NBA — and one of the most popular professional sports teams in the world. But the Lakers haven’t been drawing attention from as many NBA players as they’d like during the 2024 NBA offseason.
Lakers star LeBron James reportedly gave ex-Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson a phone call to try and recruit him to Los Angeles, California, but ultimately failed to recruit Thompson. However, James reportedly influenced Thompson’s decision to leave the Warriors.
According to ESPN,
“By the time this offseason arrived, [Klay] Thompson’s representatives had proposed at least four contracts to the team. Each time, throughout the season, the response from the Warriors was that [Klay] Thompson and his camp needed to wait while the franchise tried to improve the team in other deals. Most notably, sources said, were efforts to trade for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, Brooklyn Nets swingman Mikal Bridges, LA Clippers star Paul George and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen.”
This failed attempt most likely disappointed James and the Lakers, but perhaps this was for the best. Thompson arguably isn’t the missing piece, as he’d be a great complimentary teammate, but the Lakers would have to search for a third big star to avoid making the same mistakes in the 2024-25 NBA season.
No NBA Free Agents Want To Sign With the Lakers
Klay Thompson was a free-agent shooting guard and small forward before agreeing to a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson reportedly narrowed down his next NBA team to the Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers but ultimately desired a “fresh start” and “new experiences” in Dallas, Texas, over Hollywood, as the Lakers’ current situation reminded him of the Warriors’ situation.
The Lakers’ NBA trade market hasn’t been attractive to free agents such as Thompson. The current free agents would probably be unsure of their roles with the Lakers, would be under heavy scrutiny by a passionate yet unrealistic Lakers fanbase, and would play for a Lakers team years removed from their glory days.
Klay grew up as a Lakers fan. Klay’s father, Mychal, played for the Lakers. Mychal reportedly was “hoping and praying” Klay would join the Lakers. But at the end of the day, Klay reportedly thought he’d have a better partnership with the Mavericks — and other NBA free agents may share his thoughts.
No NBA Teams Want to Trade With the Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to trade with other NBA teams, but there’s little mutual interest.
The Lakers’ NBA trade market isn’t so strong, despite the team selecting LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, and forming the first father-son duo in NBA history. Bronny is expected to spend most of his rookie season with the NBA G League’s South Bay Lakers in El Segundo, California, but perhaps NBA teams don’t want to deal with the LeBron and Bronny hoopla.
The Lakers’ “Lakers Tax” is a probable factor in the team’s lack of game-changing trade talks as most, if not all, NBA teams expect a great return due to the team’s high-profile nature and rich history. Also, the Lakers’ limited cap space makes it difficult for the team to sign top free agents. In addition, the Lakers front office has developed an arguable lack of aggressiveness after signing Russell Westbrook and missing the NBA Playoffs.
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