Lakers Rumors: Trade Deadline Approach, Vanderbilt, Reaves

With the February 6 trade deadline looming Lakers could take one of three general paths, according to Jovan Buha from The Athletic. They could use one or both of their tradable first-round picks to try to significantly upgrade the lineup; stand pat or make a relatively small trade, perhaps using their two remaining second-round picks; or start a rebuild by tearing down the list and trading LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The latter option is clearly the least likely, according to Buha, who suggests that trading James and/or Davis, if they haven’t asked to be moved, would go against the “ethos” of the organization. And there is no indication that either player will seek a deal out of Los Angeles in the next few weeks.

As Buha said a few days ago in a YouTube video, his sense from talking to rival scouts and executives around the NBA is that the Lakers are more likely to do something small than make a big swing at the deadline.

While that could change if certain players unexpectedly become available, the Lakers are not in a good position to address all three of their most obvious needs – a two-way wing, another play-maker and ball-handler, and a center who can protect the rim and rebound — using their remaining assets, given their limited trading chips and their lack of medium-sized expiration contracts, Buha writes.

Here’s more from Buha on the Lakers:

• Los Angeles is “cautiously optimistic” that the imminent return forward Jared Vanderbilt will help give the team more clarity on which areas and positions represent its greatest need, according to Buha. If Vanderbilt’s return goes well, the expectation around the league is that the Lakers will focus on adding either a big man or a ball-handler, especially since there likely won’t be effective two-way swings available at their price point.
• The “all-in” approach, which would involve trading the Lakers’ first-round picks in 2029 and 2031, has long been the one preferred by James and Davis, Buha notes, but acquiring another impact player would be difficult, partly due to their cap situation — the club can’t take back more salary than it sends out and can’t collect Dorian Finney-Smith‘s salary since he was recently acquired, so stack contracts for one Jimmy Butler-type star to earn the maximum would be challenging.
• As Buha notes, Austin Reaves‘ strong game since D’Angelo Russell was traded has also reduced the club’s need to acquire a third high-level option. In the nine games since Russell was moved, Reaves has averaged 20.4 points and 7.3 assists per game. game with a .450/.390/.915 shooting line.