NBA Trade Deadline Buzz
NEW YORK — The NBA trade deadline is stirring up plenty of chatter around the league.
Big names are flying: Jaren Jackson Jr. might end up with the Jazz, James Harden is linked to the Cavaliers, and Darius Garland could be headed for the Clippers. In a surprising twist, Anthony Davis was traded to the Washington Wizards—a move echoing last winter when he left the Lakers for the Mavericks as part of the deal that sent Luka Doncic to L.A.
This all unfolded with over 24 hours left until the noon deadline on Thursday. There’s still a window for teams to make significant shifts.
That said, the Lakers likely won’t be in the mix.
Rob Pelinka, the general manager, has been vocal about the Lakers’ need for “optionality” since the summer. By not pulling off any trades before the Thursday deadline or making moves that would negatively impact future salary margins, the team is preserving valuable flexibility.
They seem committed to keeping as much cap space as possible for the offseason, especially with LeBron James’ hefty $52.6 million salary coming off the books as his contract expires. There are additional expiring contracts on the roster as well: Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million for 2025-26), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million).
Players like Austin Reeves ($13.9 million), Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million), and Marcus Smart ($5.1 million) also have player options for the 2026-27 season. Reeves could see a significant pay increase with a new contract soon, potentially tripling his salary. However, the Lakers want to keep their options open to better support their franchise star, Luka Doncic, who is just 26.
That’s the strategy guiding them as the deadline approaches.
However, don’t think that the Lakers are entirely sidelined in trade talks. They’ve been looking for defensive players and 3-and-D types. The interest in DeAndre Hunter, who moved from the Cavaliers to the Kings, illustrates a cautious approach. The Lakers hesitate to sacrifice long-term goals for what might only be temporary gains. Hunter’s future salary of $24.9 million next season is a concern, particularly if acquiring him would mean parting with a player under contract beyond this season.
Draft picks further complicate their situation. Currently, the Lakers hold only one first-round pick (in 2031 or 2032) and one second-round pick (in 2032). Now that the 2033 first-round pick is tradeable, they could have up to three first-round picks to leverage during the June draft, provided the 2026 pick isn’t traded before then.
Come offseason, they could leverage the anticipated cap space to snap up key free agents or combine that space with draft picks to trade for stars. They’re positioned to be one of the few competitive teams able to offer max contracts.
Ultimately, the Lakers view this trade period not as a time to gamble recklessly but rather as an opportunity to navigate their future wisely, all while facing increasing scrutiny as summer approaches.
