The Lakers are a flawed team.
That’s not even a hot take. After an early exit out of the playoffs last season, this team looks headed for a similar, perhaps even identical, path.
In theory, the trade deadline should offer a perfect solution to their problems. However, the Lakers do not sound like a team particularly close to a deal based on the reporting so far this week.
While the move is largely due to the lack of assets the Lakers have and how few solutions to their weaknesses exist on the market,
it could also signal the front office’s hesitance toward making a deal.
In a vacuum, there is logic to the idea. This is a transition year, the Lakers are not one move away from contending for a title and they will have more cap space and draft picks this summer to build a team around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
But we’re not operating in a vacuum, and the history of this front office — and specifically President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka — kicking the can down the road from transaction cycle to transaction cycle is at the forefront of fans’ minds. Obviously, the best answer is threading the needle by finding someone who can help now and in the future, like a Herb Jones.
However, this is where the Lakers run into the issue of not having enough assets to make a big swing. The Pelicans remain intent on multiple first round picks for Jones, something the Lakers can’t even offer.
What the Lakers can afford is spending a first round pick on a player like Naji Marshall, who the Mavs are holding out for a first round pick for. He would address a big need as a wing defender, but he comes at a steep price and would cost the team future flexibility this summer. He also has the same flaw so many other current Lakers do in an ability to knock down perimeter shots.
And therein lies the problem with so many players available. There is no perfect solution to the Lakers’ problems and no one they can afford that will push them over the hump.
The Lakers do have a handful of expiring contracts they could move in trades. But expiring contracts only have value in deals with long-term money, something the Lakers are still hesitant to take back.
Again, the argument can be that they should be interested in those deals, but they clearly aren’t. Restrictions placed on them by both the league as to what draft picks they can trade and by themselves as to what contracts they want back place them in a weird spot where they likely stand pat, yet again, at the deadline.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
