The Los Angeles Lakers have not met their championship expectations thus far this season. They were expected to be one of the best teams in the NBA entering the season but have struggled with injuries and consistency.

The Lakers sit in ninth place in the Western Conference with a record of 26-28. Superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis have missed significant time, but that is no excuse for how poor they have played.

However, they had a promising game against the New York Knicks last Saturday, beating them in overtime, 122-115. Davis continued his dominance since returning from injury a few weeks ago, and LeBron showcased his talent in his first game back from sickbay.

While they shouldered the load for the Lakers, Russell Westbrook struggled. His fit has been in question since he has arrived in Hollywood. Against the Knicks, he only had five points on one-of-10 shooting from the field. Lakers coach Frank Vogel benched him in overtime due to his poor play. Westbrook has a ton of time to figure it out, and the team plans to stick out with him for this season.

While things are on the rise for the Lakers, the roster could use improvement. LeBron even spoke about it ahead of the NBA trade deadline (via ClutchPoints' Michael Corvo).

“If there is an opportunity, I've said this every year if there is an opportunity to get better than you explore those options. I've been like that my whole career. I've said that over and over. If you have the opportunity to get better, no one turns that down.”

One Trade Lakers must make before the 2022 NBA trade deadline

Charlotte Hornets receive: DeAndre Jordan

Los Angeles Lakers receive: 2nd round pick

This trade makes a ton of sense for the Lakers. Jordan has not been a good fit with the team, as he provides spacing issues on offense. The games of LeBron, AD, and Westbrook are predicated on getting to the rim and finishing, and Jordan has the tendency to clog the lane.

Jordan is no longer the All-Star he once was, and opening up a roster spot could be crucial for the Lakers. Acquiring a second round pick in return could be something valuable in the future as the Lakers have been great at drafting guys as of late.

Also a few months ago, the Lakers traded Rajon Rondo to the Cleveland Cavaliers to create a roster spot. They used this to sign forward Stanley Johnson, who has been an impact player for LA. Finding another defensive player like Johnson to fill a role would help the Lakers get back to championship contention. Trading Jordan would give them this opportunity.

The Lakers are not likely to make a significant move at the NBA trade deadline as their package of Kendrick Nunn, Talen Horton-Tucker, and a 2027 first round pick has not yielded the player they want.

But someone is primed to become available who could help the Lakers improve at another position rather than keeping Jordan on the bench. He has fallen out of the rotation, with Davis starting at center and LeBron even taking minutes as well. This has allowed them to have better spacing and a more fluid offense. Dwight Howard is also ahead of Jordan in the depth chart.

The Hornets could be interested in the 33-year-old Jordan for more depth at the no. 5 position. It is the weakness of the team, with Mason Plumlee and PJ Washington as the only guys alternating.

This season, Jordan is averaging 4.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 67.0% from the field. He is past his prime but could be a solid role player in a new situation. He is still a lob threat, rebounds the ball well, and is efficient.

While this trade may not seem significant, finding a role player in the buyout market could be essential. The Lakers have to go on a run soon, and they have the talent to win the 18th championship in franchise history.