The mid-season trade deadline week is here, and there is still no news from the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office, even though they were rumored to be considering options in return for expiring contracts. NBA analyst Brian Windhorst opened up about the Lakers’ situation and talked about the team management’s intentions before the deadline.
Discussing whether the team was looking to make a move before the February 5 deadline, the analyst said:
“I don’t think so. Because I think if you really look and read what the Lakers have actually done the last nine months, they have been gearing towards retrofitting their team over the summer of 2026.”
There are some attractive names in the trade market right now. However, the values of players have been reset since the Trae Young trade, and teams aren’t in a hurry to offer them a deal. James Harden is the latest addition to the players seeking a trade, but the Lakers are staying out of it for now.
Even if the Lakers management offers a max extension to Austin Reaves, which it most probably will, the team has $40 million of expiring contracts with Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber. The 2026 offseason might be the best time for them to make a move if they aim to build around Luka Doncic and Reaves. For now, the Lakeshow fans are desperately waiting for their SG to return from his injury.
The Lakers haven’t looked confident after Austin Reaves injury
Austin Reaves was sidelined at the end of December due to a calf injury, and the Lakers are 10-9 since then. The difference is stark compared to their season-start run, when they were 15-5 in the first 20 games. Even though Doncic has had an MVP-esque performance, the help has been almost negligible.
The team is in the bottom five when it comes to bench production and faces serious offensive slumps when Luka is not on the court. LeBron James, who is shooting 32.9% from deep, has not looked comfortable consistently in shooting the ball. Meanwhile, the defense has been almost absent.
Apart from Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt, the defensive effort from any other player on the squad has been at most average until now. The team is in the bottom six in defensive rating (118.1) and needs help in that category. AR is rumored to be back in the rotation soon, which might be a boon for fans and the team if they are looking to make a deep playoff run this season.
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