The Los Angeles Lakers started out at 2-10 but have won six of their last eight games. Currently, at 8-12, this team has begun to give signs of a pulse. At the start of the season, the issues for this team were the lack of shooters. Coupled with a lack of shooting this Lakers team started strong defensively but then slowed down.
The Lakers then went on a 3 game winning streak. Led by Anthony Davis scoring more than thirty points a game. Before the season started there was talk of multiple trade opportunities. However, this recent resurgence, it has given the Lakers organization reason to wait on potential trades. Which now puts the Lakers in a wait-and-see mode.
Before the season started the Los Angeles Lakers had a trade offer from the Indiana Pacers. That trade offer is Russell Westbrook for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. This trade would allow the Lakers to move on from Westbrooks 44 million dollar contract. This move would add shooting and a more natural big man fitting next to LeBron James.
Above all the fit of Russell Westbrook has not been ideal. After recognizing the lack of fit Lakers head coach Darvin Ham decided to bring Westbrook off the bench. It has helped the team overall.
The Los Angeles Lakers winning streak started on Nov. 13, 2022. Which sparked a bit of a turnaround for the Lakers season. For that reason, better on-court play from the Lakers has paused trade talks. As stated earlier the Lakers started 2-10 but now are 8-12. Not world-beaters by any stretch of the imagination but there is a case for them being a fringe play-in tournament team.
General manager Rob Pelinka wants to wait longer on making any trades. Following the Los Angeles Lakers three game winning streak it breathed new life into the team. With a strong showing from Davis who led the charge.
According to Dave McMenamin, some players think that “there is a path for the team to make the playoffs. As well some leaders inside the Los Angeles Lakers locker room believe they are a few players away from being a legitimate contender. However, becoming a contender might take multiple trades for that to happen.”
The Los Angeles Lakers believe that the trade market will heat up for them after Dec. 15, which is when free-agent contracts that were signed in the summer become eligible to trade. The Indiana Pacers still have the strongest interest in a trade with the Lakers and the only solid deal available.
As of late, the Lakers are weighing their options on whether they should trade Patrick Beverly instead of Westbrook. In addition, the Lakers’ front office is considering if they want to trade one or two of their first-round picks. One first-round pick is in 2027 and the next pick is in 2029.
As it currently stands the Los Angeles Lakers are not willing to make any trades today or tomorrow. One of the various reasons is still wanting to allow this current group to mesh more. Along with allowing players to become more healthy over time. For instance, during that winning streak, James was sidelined due to an injury.
With more players getting healthier this could help the team on the court. As well as give the Lakers more movable assets for a potential trade. Los Angeles will not be making any trades at the moment however, the next few weeks could change all of that.
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