The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be very active ahead of the February 6th trade deadline. With a 26-19 record and a team that has very much overachieved this season, their roster is in a prime position to be improved. These improvements could help the Lakers finally get back to the NBA Finals and compete for an NBA championship.
Several players have been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers during this trade period. Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times put out a comprehensive report that breaks down the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances, feelings, and optimism surrounding every major name they have been linked with.
With that in mind, let us break this report down:
Lakers Unfazed By Poeltl And Valanciunas
Woike wrote that the Toronto Raptors are open to trading Jakob Poeltl, who makes $19.5 million a season and is signed till 2027 (player option in 2026). However, the Raptors want more than one First Round pick, which the Lakers are most likely not willing to give up for any player, let alone Poeltl, who isn’t high on their wish list. This explains why the Lakers have no interest in Poeltl.
“Take Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl, who is under contract for $19.5 million next season (with a player option at the same number in 2026-27). Poeltl, 29, is a talented center who could be the kind of player the Lakers would target.”
“However, Toronto is rumored to be seeking more than a first-round pick for Poeltl (and perhaps even two). It’s the kind of price the Lakers just wouldn’t pay for a player like him, likely requiring they trade Rui Hachimura and maybe two first-round picks for a center who, ultimately, plays the same position as Davis — only worse.”
As for Jonas Valanciunas, Woike reports that he is a big favorite among the Lakers’ front office, presumably due to his low salary of just $30.2 million till 2026. In fact, the Lakers are actively trying to trade for him. However, there is an understanding that the Lithuanian will not fit under JJ Redick’s coaching style.
“Valanciunas, a known favorite in important pockets of the Lakers’ locker room, does offer post-scoring and could be a boost for their second unit, though playing through a back-to-the-basket center isn’t close to being coach JJ Redick’s stated style.”
When it comes to the Atlanta Hawks‘ Clint Capela, the Lakers would struggle to match his $22.3 million salary without adding key pieces to their roster in a deal. Furthermore, Capela’s dip in form, which recently caused him to move to the bench has the Lakers concerned, and as such, the two sides haven’t discussed a trade.
“Atlanta’s Clint Capela is making $22.3 million, and while his contract is expiring, matching the money again would involve the Lakers trading at least one, if not two, pieces of their core for a center whom the Hawks just moved to their bench. The teams haven’t spoken about Capela, according to league executives not authorized to publicly discuss trade targets.”
Making such a massive trade for a player who hasn’t been at his best for a long time is definitely not the right call. Of course, there is every chance that Capela could rediscover his championship-level form. But the Lakers cannot afford to take that risk, given how volatile their season has been.
Updates On Walker Kessler And Myles Turner
No doubt, the Lakers have been trying to trade for the Utah Jazz‘s Walker Kessler. The Lakers were close to agreeing a deal for Jazz, but it didn’t materialize. In fact, Rob Pelinka and the front office have made multiple unsuccessful attempts to land him. And while their interest has remained strong, the Jazz have been very difficult, setting a very high price for the big man.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, nothing has changed on that front. The Jazz have practically made Kessler, who makes $2.9 million this season and $4.8 million the following year, unavailable. No offer, even those that include the Lakers’ two first-round picks, would convince them to budge from their stance.
“Utah’s Walker Kessler, a perfect fit in terms of rim protection and salary (he’s making less than $3 million), is thought to be completely unavailable in any reasonable trade scenarios, including the Lakers using both first-round picks. Things could change, but costs generally drop only for players teams are willing to trade, not for players they are not.”
Another name that has recently come up when talking about the Lakers is Myles Turner. The Indiana Pacers center could be up for grabs due to the Pacers’ desire to not pay him when he enters free agency this year. In fact, we pitched a trade for the Lakers to be able to land Myles Turner, who gives the Lakers exactly what they need in rim protection and a stretch five who can spread the floor.
However, according to Woike’s sources, a deal for Myles Turner is being treated with a lot of skepticism. Many believe that the Pacers will shy away from making a deal for the center. Furthermore, his declining defensive stats might make him a slightly concerning acquisition.
“Another oft-mentioned target, Indiana’s Myles Turner, doesn’t seem like a realistic fit. There’s a real “I’ll believe it when I see it” vibe around the league in regard to his rumored trade availability, as the Pacers continue to play good basketball and their ownership wants to build off last season’s success.”
“Turner, who has been with Indiana his entire career, also has the kind of intangible value to an organization that makes trading him even tougher despite real questions about what Indiana (or anyone) will be willing to pay him this summer as a free agent.”
“The team dangled him in trade talks before and never pulled the trigger, so there’s skepticism among NBA sources that it would go through with it now while winning and making a charge up the standings… While scouts not authorized to speak publicly say Turner’s defensive impact has lagged, he’s shooting nearly 40% from three on more than five attempts per game.”
While Turner might not be playing at the level he used to, he is still an option the franchise might consider exploring. This deal, much like many of the Lakers’ other dealings, will depend on how willing the Pacers are to negotiate.
Lakers Have Some Alternative Options
Woike noted that the Lakers are trying to land a new starting center. But if they can’t find one, they will try and upgrade their backup center options. He mentioned that the Lakers have noticed Jaxson Hayes has improved his play and might want to upgrade their options further to have a strong rotation group at the position.
He mentioned Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, two veteran bigs in the NBA who are great for team culture and have ties to LeBron James in a championship setting as potential options that the Lakers can explore.
“If the costs are too high for starting centers, the Lakers could look to either upgrade from their backup center, Jaxson Hayes, or augment him by finding a player with greater bulk. Hayes, for his part, has played much better in the last two weeks after shaking off some rust from his extended absences because of ankle injuries.”
“A veteran who would add to the team culture, similar to Tristan Thompson when he signed on the way to the Western Conference finals two years ago, could have real value. Miami’s Kevin Love is one of the few players left in the league with championship ties to James and could fill the role Jared Dudley and Thompson did inside the locker room for James’ best Lakers teams.”
A veteran center might not be able to provide the production Anthony Davis was hoping for, but it does give the Lakers another option to surround Davis with on the court.
Los Angeles Lakers Need Some Playmaking
With all the trade talk surrounding the Lakers being focused on centers, that is apparently not the only need for their roster. Many on the squad believe that they need another guard who can serve as a playmaker, something they have missed since D’Angelo Russell was traded to the Nets.
“A center also is not the Lakers’ lone need. According to players inside the locker room discouraged from publicly discussing trade targets, there’s a desire for more playmaking, a need that’s become clear since the team traded D’Angelo Russell.”
The Los Angeles Lakers could look to players like Lonzo Ball and Bennedict Mathurin to serve the playmaking point guard role on the Lakers. It was reported recently that Ball could be on the Lakers’ radar ahead of the deadline. However, both players might have too steep a price for the Lakers, and they might not feel comfortable paying that price.
“One player who would fit this bill, Chicago’s Lonzo Ball, comes with significant injury concerns but could be an option — though the trade math is sloppy without including both Vincent and Hachimura. And moving two players with years on their deal for an expiring contract likely would mean the Lakers would have to pay more for Ball than he’s worth on the open market.”
“Indiana guard Bennedict Mathurin is being monitored by nearly every team seen as a buyer at the deadline, according to one scouting executive. But because the Pacers are playing such good basketball, the team is expected to seek a player it values while trying to recoup the first-round pick it spent on Mathurin in a deal.”
Woike also mentioned Washington Wizards‘ guard Malcolm Brogdon and the Jazz’s Collin Sexton as potential options for the Lakers to pursue. With Sexton, the report mentions there might be some concern about adding yet another undersized guard to their roster after they finally got D’Angelo Russell off their roster.
“Washington’s Malcolm Brogdon has big-game experience and, at one point the Virginia Cavaliers alum had a big fan in fellow Atlantic Coast Conference star Redick. Brogdon is rumored to be available for a package of second-round picks.”
“Other backcourt options similarly come with caveats — either too small, too expensive, unavailable or not good enough. It remains unclear how comfortable the Lakers would be with adding a smaller, score-first guard like Utah’s Colin Sexton considering they traded one of those when they sent out Russell.”
Lakers Roster Hoping For Trades
It appears the Los Angeles Lakers roster is aware of the problems their roster is struggling with right now. And while they want things to improve, they are also realistic about the chances of things getting better. But they are hopeful the front office will be active heading into the final days of the trade window.
“The desire inside the locker room for the Lakers to do something is real. The Finney-Smith addition, scouts and executives believe, has improved the floor for the Lakers by addressing toughness, defensive, and spot-up shooting issues. But holes on the roster remain.”
“Lakers players are realistic about the number of needs, the lack of options, and the expensive costs. Still, they know for the team to level up, front office creativity in a tight market will be crucial during the next week.”
The Los Angeles Lakers will have a little under seven days to make whatever deals they want to happen. Rob Pelinka will not be getting much sleep in the coming days, as he will constantly be making or fielding calls from other executives in the NBA to agree on a trade that can help the team.
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