The Los Angeles Lakers have tried building their record up after a disastrous 2-10 start made them look like definite lottery fodder. However, they are currently 19-24, with not many wins separating them from a playoff spot in the West. They really might just be one move away to get themselves into contention for the playoffs.
LeBron James is still playing at an incredibly high level and the team is expecting Anthony Davis to return soon. Those two might be enough to take you into the playoffs but their injury histories will worry everyone. Even with them on the court, the Lakers tend to get out-talented on most nights as their roster just isn’t nearly deep enough as others around the league.
While the team could use a defensive addition, especially on the wing, Darvin Ham has said that the team might prioritize getting shooters via trade. 3-and-D wings aren’t cheap, so this could mean a small move for a reliable shooter or a trade that sees them give up a first-round pick to get a 3-and-D quality player.
Darvin Ham said he “can’t pinpoint” a specific need on the Lakers’ roster a few weeks out from the trade deadline, but did say (with a smile) that “shooting always helps.”
— michael corvo (@michaelcorvo_) January 17, 2023
The one thing the Lakers don’t need is guards right now, with their roster oversaturated in that position. Anthony Davis, Wenyen Gabriel, and Thomas Bryant, along with LeBron James make for a strong frontcourt rotation, so the Lakers won’t be needing to add a big man either. It makes their wing their only weakness, especially with LBJ playing as a power forward this season.
What Can The Lakers Realistically Acquire?
The best case for the Lakers would still be to acquire Buddy Hield as long as they don’t have to give up a pick for him. Hield is on a big contract that’ll carry into next season, hurting the cap space the Lakers hope to have this offseason. Hield is having an incredible season, shooting 42.6% on 9.1 attempts per game.
On the cheaper side, they could look at players like Josh Richardson on the Spurs. They’re also looking at Bojan Bogdanovic, but the Pistons’ first-round pick asking price and his long-term contract at age 35 will likely keep the Lakers away from taking that plunge.
The most realistic option has to be a player that’s on the floor against the Lakers right now, Eric Gordon. Gordon’s value cannot be justified for a first-round pick and he’s clearly disgruntled with his position on the Rockets as a veteran of an underachieving group of young stars.
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