Before the trade deadline of February 8th, it is generally anticipated that the Los Angeles Lakers will make roster upgrades. Rumored targets of the front office in recent weeks have been Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Talks about possible trade, however, have not been reported.
The Lakers are expected to pursue upgrades patiently, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. In the upcoming year, a few teams in the league, including the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls, might be sellers. The Lakers should make their move in the trade market at that point.
Rob Pelinka has limited draft resources at his disposal. But in the last 12 months, he has done an amazing job of bringing in younger talent. Two outstanding examples of young players who have significantly raised their profile within the league since joining the Lakers are Jarred Vanderbilt, 24, and Rui Hachimura, 25. Pelinka would probably have the foundation of a trade package for a possible third star if he is ready to part with a talent of that caliber.
Naturally, D’Angelo Russell’s name might also come up in trade discussions. It is highly unlikely that the Lakers roster will appear exactly the same in mid-February as it does now, regardless of what Pelinka decides to do. Pelinka is dedicated to helping the Lakers compete
Regretfully, Los Angeles must be prepared to jeopardize the future in order to succeed now. Although that approach is effective, recent seasons have shown the drawbacks of championship parades.
In the upcoming weeks, a number of players might become available on the trade market. It will be difficult to find someone who gets along with LeBron and Anthony Davis. But, if Pelinka can succeed and the Denver Nuggets’ injury problems continue, the Purple and Gold might emerge as the new front-runners to win the Western Conference in 2024.
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