As presently constructed, the Los Angeles Lakers are not built to win a championship. At this point, 40+ games into the season, it’s a fact that everybody but the Lakers’ front office seems to know.
So, where do they go from here? If this is truly a lost season, what hope do they have of winning next season when both James and Anthony Davis get another year older?
While it may be hard to see now, the Lakers apparently do have a vision, and it involves acquiring one more big-name superstar.
In a recent article by Chris Mannix and Howard Beck, it’s revealed that the Lakers intend to pursue some big-name targets this summer via trade and that the Lakers are actively trying to sell this idea to LeBron.
I touched on this in a column Monday, but I can see both sides of the picks debate. I can see LeBron’s side; he’s 38 and in the middle of an MVP-level season. With a little help—and with Anthony Davis’s health—James can envision pushing the Lakers through a superteam-less conference field. Why does he care about a first-rounder in 2027? I thought our pal Brian Windhorst had a great note in a recent podcast: 20 years into his NBA career and LeBron has played with exactly five rookie first-round picks. Internally, I’m sure the Lakers are selling James on an offseason when Bradley Beal or Damian Lillard becomes available, and L.A. swoops in with its picks to acquire them. But that’s more fantasy than reality.
The Lakers appear to believe they are in the running for Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, two players who would obviously change the situation in Los Angeles. The thing is, neither player is currently available in trade talks, and the Lakers would have to give up both of their future draft picks to get it done.
Can The Lakers Turn Their Season Around?
Whether or not the Lakers make a trade, they will need health on their side if they want to make any kind of noise in the Western Conference. It’s something LeBron James alluded to in his most recent press conference.
“Ever since we made the trade for AD to bring him here, our whole thing was about health,” James said. “It’s not changed, and you guys said before the season started, ‘do we think Russ can work?’ And I said, ‘how can we know that if we’ve not been on the floor together?’ We haven’t had the best luck of health, I would say, especially this year now again.”
The season is moving fast, and the Lakers find themselves right on the edge of the play-in line. While any trades this season will likely be smaller-scale deals, don’t be surprised to see L.A. aim for someone bigger in the offseason.
If the Lakers can pull it off somehow and add either Dame or Beal next to LeBron and Anthony Davis, L.A. will be firmly in the realm of title contention.
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