The Lakers’ inactivity has not been due to a lack of trying. They struck out with Klay Thompson, were unable to land other impact free agents like Jonas Valančiūnas and DeMar DeRozan, and have failed thus far to find common ground in trade talks with Portland, Brooklyn, Utah, Toronto and Orlando.
Trent’s decision could alter the Lakers’ urgency. Regardless, the Lakers expect to make a consolidation trade at some point, though that could come closer to the start of the season, according to league sources.
In polling more than a dozen front-office executives, coaches, scouts and agents attending the NBA Summer League, most pegged the Lakers as a likely Play-In team, with seeds ranging from fifth to 10th in the West.
None view the team’s current version as capable of winning a championship. Several noted a lack of two-way wings and the hole at backup center behind Davis as reasons for pessimism.
Most notably, almost all expect the Lakers to make a trade at some point ahead of the Feb. 7, 2025 trade deadline.
by Odd-Direction9452
22 Comments
I just hate the feeling of going into a year and just being like “let’s fix this at the deadline” it’s such a risky strategy man
Accepted that we are running it back til February. See yall in October
No shit. Even Stevie Wonder could that.
Ranging from 5th to 10th is most of the West.
Least obvious Buha report
It’s really mind blowing how badly the LeBron/AD era has been mismanaged.
They failed to trade with 5 DIFFERENT TEAMS??
AD plz ask out plz you are in your prime don’t let these incompetent clowns waste your prime.
If the Lakers don’t make any roster improvements by the season start, Rob should be fired. No excuses. Came into the summer with 3 first rounders. No more Ham, no more Russ.
I’m not a fan of what Pelinka has done since the middle of 2021 season, but no trade is better than a bad trade. Everybody is aware our team isn’t a title contender as it is, but a bad trade could be catastrophic.
The problem with the wait and see approach is the leverage DECREASES as the deadline approaches. Teams know the closer we get to being stuck as we are, the more desperate we will be…only a ridiculously favorable string of outcomes (Vando stays healthy, Gabe resurgence, Max breaks out, Knecht steps right into a productive role, Wood and Hayes flourish in JJ’s offense and Bron and AD are healthy and productive) will change that. That’s hilariously unlikely but it would be awesome. I just wouldn’t bet any money on it 🤷
I’m really okay with the current roster, what we really can use as a sense of urgency is a big body that can make AD less stressed.
We’re so tied up that any move could be a bad move.
To me Robs biggest misses have been on draft night. They had the chance to draft Jaime Jaquez Jr. or cam Whitmore. That would make trades a lot easier if you have promising young talent
I still think our roster was better than our record last season. I’m perfectly fine with running it back. Making moves just to make moves is not the way to go.
The vibe around this franchise just isn’t the same anymore. I’ve been a diehard fan for over 20 years and I’m going to ride or die with this team but damn this Lakers franchise has lost its luster and just feels like a full blown circus now.
This was basically a 50 win team even with Darvin Ham bungling half the season away with boneheaded decisions. I don’t understand the urgency to just make any move.
Lakers are just dragging this out for the fans, but no doubt they are going to run it back.
In other words, can is being kicked down the road again. What else is new? See yall in October.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
We are basically keeping this team together until the deadline. So we can hope & pray JJ Reddick becomes elite head coach
“Nothing materialized at the deadline so we’ll be looking to the buyout market.
….oh wait…”