There is a feeling among many people that the Los Angeles Lakers need to do whatever they reasonably can to try to win another NBA championship as long as LeBron James is still on their roster and playing at a high level. The Lakers still have arguably the league’s best superstar duo in James and Anthony Davis, as well as several good and solid complementary players.
Despite what some would say, they seem to be a legitimate playoff team. But virtually no one thinks they have any shot at winning it all as presently constituted.
Los Angeles has made virtually no moves this summer, and time is quickly running out for it to do something to upgrade their roster. Joven Buha of The Athletic was asked during a recent episode of “Buha’s Block” if this coming season is already a wasted one, and while he said it isn’t, he said it will be if the team doesn’t make a move by the trade deadline (at 51:17).
“I wouldn’t say that, I would say if the Lakers don’t make a trade, it’s a wasted season, in my opinion,” Buha said. “Just because I don’t think, as currently constructed, they are a legitimate championship contender with the current roster. So, if they don’t go for it and trade at least one of the picks, that, to me, is a wasted season.
“I’m going to tentatively say, the opportunity is still there for them to significantly improve the roster or at least marginally improve the roster,” Buha continued. “I think with where they are at, every incremental amount matters… I’m not quite with you on the pessimism yet but if it is February 8th and I am doing a live stream or a podcast and the Lakers have not made a trade, I will say it’s a waste of the season.”
It should be pointed out that in each of the last two summers, major trades were made very close to the start of training camp. In 2023, Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sept. 27, and on Oct. 1, Jrue Holiday was sent to the Boston Celtics. The previous year, the Utah Jazz shipped Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sept. 3.
The Lakers have a hole at the center position (other than Davis) and need a legitimate 3-and-D wing or two. They also could ideally use an upgrade over starting point guard D’Angelo Russell, who tends to play very well in the regular season but is wildly inconsistent during the playoffs and, overall, is slow and lacking on the defensive end.
If they are to make a concerted effort to go for it and pursue a Larry O’Brien Trophy this coming season, they will have to make the most of their limited trade assets while also finding a delicate balance between winning now and having enough resources to properly rebuild after James leaves.