The Los Angeles Lakers 2024-25 NBA campaign has not gone as planned. After something of a hot start, L.A. has struggled to maintain its momentum.
Now the team finds itself 14-12 – good for 10th place in the Western Conference.
Fortuantely, reinforcements may be on the way.
The Lakers seek to bolster their roster through strategic trades. Key targets include defensive-minded centers and versatile wings, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha.
The team aims to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis with three-point shooting and frontcourt depth. Rob Pelinka and the front office are exploring various possibilities before the trade deadline.
“A tough, physical, defensive-minded center. A big 3-and-D wing who complements Davis and James as a starter/closer. A big, quick, athletic guard with point-of-attack defensive capabilities,” Buha said.
“The buzziest name in league circles, who’s been attached to the Lakers dating back to the summer, is Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas. He checks the box of a big, bruising, physical center, though his defensive mobility is limited and he can be targeted on that end (as the Lakers did twice in high-stakes games to close the 2023-24 regular season and in the Play-In game).”
Spurs Linked To 3 Interesting Chris Paul Trades https://t.co/mChZOaoyvk
— Game 7 (@game7__) December 15, 2024
Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets also remain options for L.A.
“After trading Schroder, Brooklyn is expected to make wings Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith available, and much sooner than the Feb. 6 deadline. Both have been tied to the Lakers for months. The Lakers have been interested in Finney-Smith for at least a couple of years,” Buha continued.
While those are the likeliest three players to land in purple and gold short-term, there are a few other names that the Lakers have also been linked to.
“Names that have come up in talks with team and league personnel over the past few weeks include Utah’s Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton, Toronto’s Bruce Brown Jr., Portland’s Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III, and Washington’s Kyle Kuzma,” Buha wrote.
“The Lakers are not anticipated to be heavily in the mix for Miami’s Jimmy Butler, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, or Chicago’s Zach LaVine.”
If the Lakers want to maximize what is left of LeBron James’ time in the league, they have to make a big move. And quickly. What will that big move ultimately look like, though? An answer to that question one way or the other is coming within the next few weeks.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
