Three weeks ahead of trade deadline, the Lakers have options

Unlike previous trade deadlines, Rob Pelinka can push away from the table.

Rob Pelinka’s last two deadlines were defined by what he needed to get done. Any team he negotiated with knew he had to move Russell Westbrook and tried to take advantage of that reality. This year, he and the Lakers head into the deadline with options, and the luxury of being able to push away from the table.

The Lakers headed into this season with the hope of building on depth and continuity from last year’s run to the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, because of some, er, interesting coaching decisions, half the season has come and gone and we’re still waiting on that whole continuity concept. But things aren’t so bad that the Lakers are desperate to make a move in the three weeks between now and the February 8 trade deadline.

As such, the Lakers have their choice in paths ahead of them. They can go all-in on a ceiling-raiser like Dejounte Murray or Zach LaVine. They could play things more conservatively and use Gabe Vincent’s contract to bring in a steadier role player like Tyus Jones. They could split the difference by bringing in Malcom Brogdon or Gary Trent Jr. Or, if things don’t pan out, they can hold off and see what the buyout market provides and with less competition in that marketplace because of the new CBA.

As you’d expect, the Lakers are open to any of those paths with a few weeks still to go and have made calls on several players across the league, including those mentioned specifically above.

Let’s take a look at each path and see which makes the most sense.

All In, Baby

As has been reported quite thoroughly at this point, the Lakers have made calls on LaVine and Murray. Per sources close to the situation, they are quite a bit more interested in Murray, who they view as a better two-way player on a much more reasonable contract.

As recently as late last week, some in the Lakers organization thought they were nearing a deal for Murray that would’ve seen D’Angelo Russell go to Atlanta, as well as the 2029 pick and recent first-round selection Jalen Hood Schifino. Atlanta changed course, though, and asked for Austin Reaves. At that point, talks between the two teams stalled and haven’t picked up since.

Some I’ve spoken to have also mentioned the Lakers sending more money to Atlanta (say, Gabe Vincent or Rui Hachimura) to take back Bogdan Bogdanovic (who, I’m told the Lakers have called about on his own), Clint Capela or Lakers legend De’Andre Hunter’s longer term contracts. Issue there is Vincent and Hachimura are on longer deals of their own so a third team would likely have to send a large expiring to make this make more sense for Atlanta.

There is some belief around the league that those talks could reignite closer to the deadline, but not deal is imminent as of right now.

If Atlanta moves off of their current stance that the Lakers can only get Murray for a package built around Reaves and okays a deal for Russell, it’d be pretty hard to not see that as a major upgrade. Murray is more consistent than Russell and has been a plus on defense earlier in his career when he wasn’t trying to make up for Trae Young on the perimeter.

Murray could play alongside Reaves in lineups and is more than capable of driving units on his own. He’s hitting threes at a career rate this year, too, which would help with spacing in groups with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Would he make the Lakers title favorites? No. But he would absolutely help.

It makes all the sense in the world for the Lakers to hold steady and see if they can land Murray for Russell and stuff. It would be a clear upgrade at a position the Lakers feel they need one.

As far as LaVine goes, the Lakers would have to send out so many rotation minutes to match his contract that any assets beyond that are out of the question, unless Chicago is willing to include something else to entice them.

A Solid, Smart Raise

Some internally believe the Lakers are close as is. We’ve seen this team look overwhelming at various points this season and, if they managed to upgrade here and there, could reach those heights more consistently.

As mentioned above, the Lakers have had conversations internally and externally about Brogdon and Trent Jr. Per sources, they’ve also spoken to the Charlotte Hornets about Terry Rozier and to the Brooklyn Nets about Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney Smith and Royce O’Neale. Dave McMenamin of ESPN also mentioned Collin Sexton before yesterday’s game.

L.A. has also shown interest in Bojan Bogdanovic in the past but Detroit is such a mess that figuring out an asking price with them is like talking physics with a toddler. Sure it’s entertaining for a little while but then you realize you’ve spent 15 minutes talking to a toddler.

The Lakers and several teams have called about Alex Caruso, but his price tag is so high still he may as well be in the previous section. From what I’ve heard, teams around the league think Caruso is off the table this deadline, as Chicago’s front office wants to hold on tight to one of the few things Arturas Karnisovas has done right since taking over.

If you’re curious about another former Laker, Washington’s asking price on Kyle Kuzma is in that two first-rounder range. And as the Lakers only have one to work with right now, it feels unlikely the Lakers can swing a deal to bring him back to L.A., depending on how Washington feels about Hood-Schifino.

For what it’s worth, sources close to both sides of this (the Lakers and Kuz) say they’d both happily welcome a reunion.

Call

In this scenario, the Lakers would turn Vincent’s $10.5M deal and, say, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes, and/or Hood-Schifino, plus some draft capital (in this case, not likely the ‘29 pick), into a backup upgrade.

Vincent’s tenure has been thoroughly disappointing and his return isn’t slated for a couple weeks after the trade deadline. Fortunately, he’s on a very reasonable contract and unlike Kendrick Nunn last year, teams around the league still think he belongs in it. In talking about him to league sources, there’s enough optimism that he’ll help a team that he isn’t seen as a negative asset.

Washington’s Tyus Jones might be overqualified to back up Russell or his deadline replacement, and as he’s started this year, the Wizards are expecting a starter’s return in trade. Michael Scotto of Hoopshype reported Washington “covets” a first rounder for Jones.

For what it’s worth, when I asked about surrendering the ‘29 first for Jones, even heavily protected, one NBA official said “They can covet that all they want.”

Other names I’ve been told to keep an eye on in this category of player: Alec Burks, Monte Morris, Kris Dunn, Lonnie Walker IV, Luke Kennard and Gary Harris.

Check

I know some fans would see this scenario as more like folding, but it’s worth discussing because I’ve been told by multiple sources this is something the Lakers are seriously considering. If the Lakers are able to add to their roster without moving that ‘29 first rounder, they could have as many as three to work with on draft night this summer.

On draft night, the New Orleans Pelicans will make a decision on which of the picks the Lakers will be surrendering to them as part of the Anthony Davis trade that feels like roughly 53 lifetimes ago. If New Orleans chooses the ‘24 first, then the Lakers could draft that player for New Orleans and then have ‘25, ‘28 and ‘30 to move this summer. Should New Orleans put it off again, the Lakers could package ‘24¹, ‘28/‘29, and ‘30/’31.

We just saw Pascal Siakam traded to Indiana for three firsts, none of which are as valued around the league as any post-LeBron James Lakers first rounder. Every year, we hear about a star growing sick of their situation and at least sending feelers for where they could potentially land. An assortment of draft capital like that would give the Lakers some very intriguing options for such a situation.

To be absolutely clear, I’m not saying it’s something I personally would prioritize and the Lakers would one zillion percent have to run this by James to make sure he’s on board with a more marginal trade deadline this year, but this is something we have to keep in mind as it is something the Lakers are heavily considering internally.

The Decision

Honestly, basically any of these paths make sense to me. If you can get Murray for Russell, JHS and a first, then I think you have to pull the trigger. If the front office decides it wants to focus on the margins to raise the floor, I’d get that too. If they decide to prioritize future pick flexibility to make one final real run at a superstar this summer, I’d kind of get that, so long as James is on board.

The only scenario I’d be pretty annoyed would be them doing nothing at all. But per several sources, that just doesn’t seem likely. Expect some trade of some sort and an active buyout market pursuit.

Notes

• Once again, the market is thrown slightly out of whack by the flattened lottery odds and the couple extra play-in slots that teams feel like they can make a run at. Teams like Utah and Houston would historically be seen as clear sellers, but they’re good this year. Why would they help their competition for playoff slotting?

• To make things even worse, there is a team lower in the standings that won’t sell under almost any non-injury-driven circumstances. The Golden State Warriors suck this year but so long as they have Stephen Curry, they aren’t selling, nor should they.

• The Lakers currently sit a mere $1.265M above the luxury tax. I’d look for them to duck under the tax this trade season to reset their repeater. This would also give them a chance at picking up a buyout candidate (Gordon Hayward, for example, as my dude Jake Fischer reported) while staying under their hard cap.

1. In this scenario, the Lakers would have to pick a player for the team they’re trading with, seeing as they’ll be sending ‘25 to New Orleans.