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It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the teams looking to buy before the NBA trade deadline on March 25. Presently, the Lakers are linked to several names, with most of them being big men that the team will look to add to their rotation as All-Star big man Anthony Davis continues to recover from injury.
With a 26-13 record, the Lakers remain in the third spot in the Western Conference even as they've dealt with the absence of players like Davis, guards Dennis Schroder and Alex Caruso, and center Marc Gasol. But the team struggled in their first few games without Davis and Schroder, losing four straight at one point. Those rare defeats showed that as good as the defending champions are, the team can still improve, especially with other title contenders also making upgrades to their rosters.
However, there are also certain moves the Lakers should avoid in their desire to upgrade their lineup, especially when it comes to dealing the limited assets they have.
3. Trading away their young players
The last big trade the Lakers made was to acquire Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Purple and Gold paid a king’s ransom in order to pair him alongside LeBron James. Aside from dealing away young players in Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart, the Lakers also included three first-round picks in the deal, which left them with limited draft assets.
In the next four drafts, the Lakers only own one first-round pick (2022) and two second-round picks (2023 and 2024), making these picks valuable. The same could be said of their young players like Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, and Talen Horton-Tucker. These players may not always put up big numbers, but they have clear roles on the team and have become an important part of the rotation while also being embraced by the fans. While there might be an urge to deal these players right now, they could also be an important part of the team’s future and can help them repeat as champions.
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2. A defensive liability
Even without Davis, the Lakers continue to be one of the NBA's best defenses, which proves they can still put the clamps on opponents even without their best defender. But trading for a player who can light up the scoreboard but is also a defensive liability could change that.
Aside from a center to play alongside Davis and Gasol, the Lakers are also rumored to be looking for shooters and wing players to add to their rotation. But the front office should be careful in trading for a player who could turn out to be a sieve on defense. Veteran shooters like Pelicans guard JJ Redick or Detroit Pistons guard and former Laker Wayne Ellington could certainly help space the floor for James and Davis, but it could come at the cost of the defense they relied on as much as their All-Stars during their run to the title last season.
1. A short-term solution
The Lakers’ losses without Davis, which included defeats to the Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns, have understandably caused some concern. But when Davis is at his best and the team is at full strength, the Lakers are still capable of beating any team in a series in the playoffs.
Trading away young talent, draft assets, or important players in their rotation to get someone they might not even use come playoff time would be a waste of resources. For instance, the team is reportedly looking for a center to pair with Davis and Gasol like they did last season when they had Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee in their rotation.
But the Lakers actually downsized for most of the playoffs last season, with Davis playing most of his minutes at center and Howard and McGee seeing limited action on the court during their title run. Breaking the bank and using assets on a big man that would be used sparingly in the postseason and play behind Gasol and Montrezl Harrell might not be a risk worth taking. It makes more sense if the addition comes via the buyout market, which could very well be the route the Lakers take.
