There were no major changes, so Los Angeles stood firm and hoped LeBron James would agree.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers concluded there was no NBA trade that would significantly improve them.
Will LeBron James agree?
After weeks of getting the league going, the Lakers decided to make do with what they had.
Will James be happy with this?
The NBA trade deadline passed without a word from headquarters in El Segundo, California. A year after reshaping the team through a series of trades, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has done nothing. A team that desperately needed an injection of talent didn’t get it.
In reality. Let’s cut to the chase: The Lakers did a good job meeting this deadline. There was no one to make a difference. Outwit Murray? Ideal if you don’t mind giving up Austin Reaves, a first-round pick, and a few NBA trades. Bruce Brown? Say goodbye to the suddenly hot D’Angelo Russell and get ready for a blockbuster. The Lakers had offers. “Hundreds,” Pelinka said. Nothing logical.
Find out which teams “won” the deadline. The New York Knicks emerged victorious by adding a few rotation players from the worst team in the NBA. The Oklahoma City Thunder won by adding a frequently injured forward with playoff experience. The Dallas Mavericks won using two first-round picks, Daniel Gafford, and traded P.J. Washington.
The Lakers didn’t miss anything important.
There was nothing big.
“The market is the market,” Pelinka said. “There were very, very few providers. »
For weeks, the Lakers have attributed their early season problems to injuries. For Jarred Vanderbilt. To Gabe Vicente. To Cam Reddish. Rui Hachimura, an early acquisition last season, missed time. Max Christie sprained his ankle during the first half of Los Angeles’ loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. According to the Lakers, a full return would have the same impact as any deal they could make.
“We have to hope that we can reintegrate these bodies in the coming days,” Pelinka said. “I think they’ll give us depth if we get some healthy, really good players back.”
There is something true. Vanderbilt, who will miss at least a month with a foot injury, is a versatile defender. Vincent, an announced offseason signing after a strong playoff run with Miami, has played in five games this season. Reddish is a reliable defender who missed nearly three weeks with a knee injury.
The Lakers, Pelinka said, will be aggressive in the buyout market. Spencer Dinwiddie, Marcus Morris, and Cedi Osman are among the likely available perimeter players who could improve a struggling offense. And next summer, when Los Angeles has as many as three first-round picks to NBA trade, the Lakers will go shopping again.
“Which I think will open up access to a potentially even bigger swing,” Pelinka said. “We didn’t want to shoot a small bullet now that would only result in a very small improvement, at the expense of a much larger and potentially impactful measure in June and July. »
Logical, right? But does James see it that way? At 39, time is running out for James as a player. During a brief postgame interview Thursday, James didn’t reveal much. He was asked what a healthy Lakers team would need to make a push at the end of the season. “I don’t know,” James said. “We’re not there yet. It’s hard for me to say that. He was asked about Los Angeles’ ability to improve internally. “Just health,” James said. “Our whole year has been about health.”
The Lakers need James’ approval. James could become a free agent next summer. The smart money says it will come back. He loves Los Angeles, his family has roots there and he has a longtime superstar teammate in Anthony Davis. But James is also pragmatic. If the Lakers falter early in the playoffs and don’t reach a meaningful deal before the draft, he could look elsewhere.
“The last conversation I had with him was him focusing on the guys in the locker room and making them the best players and teammates they could be,” Pelinka said. “I think he said after our last game, ‘I like these guys,’ and as a leader and captain, he knows that strengthening these guys and getting the most out of them will be important for our careers. that’s why I can’t wait to see how this evolves. “
The Lakers can’t afford a sabbatical. With James, there is none. James will start in the All-Star Game later this month. Davis will come off the bench. Both were durable and productive, providing enough high-level play for the team to win. Los Angeles is betting there will be wins as the injury list continues to dwindle. And then the team will move next summer.
