The Los Angeles Lakers have been a part of trade rumors for months. Before the season even began, general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters the team was open to a blockbuster trade, but they would not rush to make one. The clock is ticking for this team. LeBron James is still playing at an elite level, but his career is coming to a close.
If they want one more championship with this core, improvements have to be made. They are stuck in the middle of the Western Conference and need a roster upgrade to make a run. While names have been thrown around, nothing has materialized, and it will probably remain that way until closer to the deadline of February 6.
Los Angeles Lakers Remaining Patient
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported the team is not making a panic trade. They are waiting for the right deal to come along. On his podcast, Buha’s Block, he reiterated the team plans to wait until the eleventh hour unless a can’t-miss deal materializes.
“I’ve heard the Lakers have been patient with the trade approach relatively and it’s been more of them waiting toward that February 6 date. If the right deal comes up sooner they will make it but it’s seemingly been more than kind of waiting this out until like mid-to-late January on the early side.”
Don’t look now, but February 6th is closer than you think. We turn the calendar over to January next week, and the NBA rumors will be heating up. The Los Angeles Lakers are doing the smart thing, given their position. They are fifth in the West at 18-13. While there are glaring issues, they are not trying to climb themselves back into the playoff picture. If they kept on this trajectory, they would likely make the playoffs and give a top-tier team a run for their money. However, that is not the standard. They want to make it to the NBA Finals.
Who Could They Get?
The two biggest names on the market are De’Aaron Fox and Jimmy Butler. When the Sacramento Kings fired Mike Brown, the trade rumors immediately started to swirl around Fox. There hasn’t been much reporting on whether the team or player is actively looking for a trade, but it’s purely speculation. The Jimmy Butler situation has been a topic of much debate amongst NBA analysts. Reports indicate Butler wants out but Pat Riley is adamant so far that the Miami Heat are not looking to trade him.
It would take a lot for the Los Angeles Lakers to get either one of these players. Both teams would be looking for premium picks and good young players back. While the Lakers do have some nice pieces, their draft capital is limited. More than likely, the team will look to add quality role players. Dorian Finney-Smith is a name that has been thrown around but he is a hot name for many teams. Jonas Valanciunas is another name that has been thrown around to help their front-court rotation.
Final Thoughts
It will be interesting to see what the Los Angeles Lakers decide to do. Do they make a big swing for one big name and run with that player, LeBron and Anthony Davis? Or do they acquire and bunch of quality pieces and hope their depth can overwhelm teams? The NBA trade deadline is always exciting, and this year looks to be no different.
