Lakers’ Trade Deadline Considerations
As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Lakers find themselves sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 29-19 record. That’s not too shabby, especially when you consider that LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reeves have played just 140 minutes combined due to injuries to James and Reeves.
It’s hard to say how strong the Lakers could be once this trio hits their stride.
What’s clear, though, is that the team needs to bolster its defense.
Currently, they sit at 25th in defensive rating, allowing opponents to convert 68.3 percent of their shots from within 5 feet, surpassing only the Jazz and Kings in that regard.
Remember last year’s playoffs when Rudy Gobert seemed unstoppable against the Lakers in the first round? That wasn’t exactly a unique situation.
The Lakers are looking to acquire big, defensive-oriented wings who can protect the paint while also being able to shoot from beyond the arc. Unfortunately, they’re constrained by the looming luxury tax and possess only a single first-round pick and one second-round pick for trading. Plus, there’s no interest in taking on any contracts that extend beyond this season.
When it comes to trade moves, general manager Rob Pelinka can be a bit unpredictable.
Sure, he’s been a bit conservative in some years, but back in 2023, he flipped Russell Westbrook for six players and famously led the team deep into the playoffs. Last February, Pelinka shocked many by trading Doncic for Anthony Davis.
Should Pelinka make a trade this deadline, it’ll likely be a minor move.
It might be wiser for the Lakers to focus their efforts on the offseason.
This approach could help them clear a significant amount of cap space to make a major move centered around Doncic, increasing their tradeable first-round picks from one to three. Not to mention, several players including James, Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Jackson Hayes will be unrestricted free agents, and others like Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart could join them depending on their options.
But it feels a bit risky to let Doncic, who’s having an MVP-caliber season, and potentially James in his final year, go to waste without making a move that positions the Lakers as serious contenders.
The team had been eyeing DeAndre Hunter and Keon Ellis, but they were recently exchanged in a three-team deal. Walker Kessler was also a target, but after shoulder surgery, he’s out of the question for now.
The Lakers’ options appear limited due to a shortage of available 3-and-D players, their constraints, and the long-term goals at play.
Herb Jones from New Orleans would be an ideal addition, but the asking price seems steep and may involve two first-round picks.
Other potential targets include Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Donte DiVincenzo, and Troy Murphy III.
Some of these names come with hefty price tags, and it’ll be interesting to see if any become more accessible in the next 72 hours, which could allow the Lakers to enhance their defensive capabilities.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will be investing heavily in rebuilding during the offseason.
So, unless Pelinka can pull off a trade by Thursday, Doncic, James, and Reeves might have to rely on their offense to cover defensive shortfalls for now.
