All Lakers Expert Predictions for What LA Will Do at the NBA Trade Deadline
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They’re running out of time to make a move.
Rob Pelinka better be working the phones right now. In less than 24 hours, the NBA trade deadline will have passed, and the Lakers will be out of time to turn this disappointing team into a contender around the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, 38-year-old LeBron James.
The Lakers have been linked with five teams as potential matches in a deal. They’ve also been linked to just about every available player on the market. But the time is now.
If the trade deadline comes and goes, and the Lakers roster looks as it is now, they may as well kiss LeBron goodbye — because there’s no way he wouldn’t demand a trade in the offseason.
So, with that being said, let’s get into our All Lakers expert predictions for one of the most important trade deadline’s in the team’s history.
1. Will Russell Westbrook be a Laker tomorrow after the trade deadline?
Noah: I have this bad feeling that he will be, but I really hope not. I don’t think there’s any way the Lakers will find success the rest of the year with Westbrook on this team. He’s not a good fit, and he can’t be trusted in crunch time. He needs to be off the team, and, ideally, in a package that brings back good pieces.
Alex: No way. He’s having blowups in the locker room, he’s icing out LeBron James. It’s over. Someone needs to explain to Jeanie Buss that Westbrook is just a negative asset now.
2. Do you think the Lakers need to make a trade before tomorrow to make the playoffs?
Alex: Absolutely. LeBron James, right this very second, remains a top 15/20 talent in the NBA right now. He’s 38 years old, he’s in his 20th season. How much longer does he possibly have at this level? The team needs to at least give him some help. Even if it’s not an all-in move, something must change.
Noah: Yes. 100%, 1,000%, 1,000,000% yes. This team is clearly not good enough to compete, and they not only need new pieces, they need a jolt from the front office. A win-now trade would do just that.
3. How many trades do you think the Lakers will make before tomorrow?
Noah: My head says zero. My heart says two. So I’m going to meet in the middle and say one. They have to find a trading partner for Westbrook, and they have to prove to LeBron that they care about winning in his age-38 season. So, they will.
Alex: I’m with you. The Lakers will make one trade, but to me everyone on this roster not on a rookie scale deal should be flipped, and if it ultimately costs intriguing young assets like Max Christie and Austin Reaves to make a major upgrade, then that is okay, too.
4. Which of the many trades the Lakers have been linked to do you think they’re going to make (if you think they’ll make one)?
Alex: I think they’ll probably get something cooking with the Utah Jazz. They’ve already made a (less-than-awesome) deal with Danny Ainge and co. this season, and the pieces do make some sense.
Noah: I really hope it’s the Raptors one, and I really hope it’s not the Jazz one (unless a third team is involved). Getting one or more of Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. and OG Anunoby turnd this team into an instant contender. With Kyrie Irving off the board, that is by far the best move to turn the Lakers into a winner.
5. Let’s nip this one in the bud. Anthony Davis isn’t going to get traded before tomorrow, right?
Noah: Before tomorrow? No. This offseason? Probably. But more on that at a later date.
Alex: I love that thinking. If LA can move him for high-level depth, the team totally should. Here’s hoping opposing executives haven’t been paying too much attention to him since he came back from that right foot stress injury.