This season has been a rollercoaster for the Los Angeles Lakers. After a rocky start, it seemed the Lakers had found their footing and climbed their way into the top of the Western Conference standings. An injury to LeBron James has taken the team a step back.
Since going down with a groin injury in their Christmas day victory over the Golden State Warriors, LeBron has watched from the sideline as the Lakers, led by their young pieces, have gone 5-8. James will be reevaluated this coming Wednesday, but it may be time for Los Angeles to consider some drastic change. With the Feb. 7 trade deadline right around the corner, the Lakers should seek to make moves because of these three big reasons:
Time is of the essence
When LeBron James put pen to paper in the offseason to sign with the Lakers in the offseason, their timeline for success was a mystery. Inability to sign a second star player and disinterest in trading for Kawhi Leonard left Los Angeles no other option but than to let the team develop organically. The only problem now is that they may not have as much time as they thought.
His groin strain is the first injury LeBron has ever had that forced him to miss significant time during his career. This could very well be a sign that after 15 seasons of avoiding injuries aging, LeBron James is human and as vulnerable as the next guy. The Lakers need to make haste in maximizing what they have in James, as opposed to taking the chance that he will still be the same player he is today in the backend of his four-year contract.
The fit just isn’t there
Over their last 10 games, the Los Angeles Lakers have the worst offensive rating in the league, sitting a stout 1.3 points behind the New York Knicks. Outside of Kyle Kuzma, the big leap that everyone hoped the young players, specifically Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, would make just hasn’t happened. Even worse, Brandon Ingram, who was supposed to take over as the number two guy next to LeBron, has seemed like a poor fit alongside him.
Kyle Kuzma is the only young player that has shown significant improvement. Becoming the second offensive option for this team, he is averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and sporting an effective field goal percentage of 52.3. Josh Hart has been decent, as well, putting up 1.7 3’s a game at a 34.6 percent clip, but outside of those two, it just isn’t gelling like the front office and fans would have hoped.
Given the lack of success in making this team work, it may be time to sell while they can and ensure the trade value of the young Lakers doesn’t fall any lower. Cashing in on them now would be the best way to add immediate help to the team, especially if the team as currently constructed isn’t finding the success management hoped they would.
The right piece could be available
It has certainly been an eventful NBA regular season thus far. Although many teams in the league still believe in this moment that they have a puncher’s chance in getting into the playoffs, that could change overnight. As teams like the New Orleans Pelicans or the Washington Wizards struggle to make their record and conference standings mirror their own self-evaluation, the likelihood that elite talent becomes available via trade for the right price continues to grow.
That, combined with the possibility that the Los Angeles Lakers could strike out in the offseason and start the 2019-20 season with nothing to show for it but a LeBron James who is a year older, puts them in perfect position to go all-in for a trade bringing them another star.
Although it appears all but a guarantee that the Pelicans will not trade Anthony Davis this year, it doesn’t mean the Lakers should stop calling. New Orleans currently sits at 12th in the West and three games under .500. If they find themselves unable to climb back and the future looks bleak in terms of retaining Davis, their disposition on fielding offers could change very quickly.
The same situation exists with Bradley Beal in D.C. With an 19-26 record and John Wall out for the rest of the season, the possibility of Beal being available shouldn’t be ruled out. Despite his best efforts, Beal hasn’t been able to power the Wizards to sustained success. If he begins to consider asking for a move from the front office, the Lakers could be the team that has the best offer to give.
Even outside of those two players, there are other possible names that could pop up unexpectedly if the dominos fall just right for Los Angeles. Supposing the fit and chemistry continue to not work, or even sour, there is a possibility the Philadelphia 76ers could find themselves looking to move on from Jimmy Butler after less than a season with the star wing. The Charlotte Hornets could begin to feel less confident in their ability to resign Kemba Walker (or even in their desire to toss him a monster contract), he could become a name available on the trade market.
If the right player becomes available, the Los Angeles Lakers shouldn’t fail to consider taking a bird in the hand over the two in the bush and abandon their approach to wait until the summer to add more talent.
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