Rob Pelinka
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Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka during a press conference in June 2024
For much of the season, the prevailing assumption around the NBA was that the Los Angeles Lakers would approach the trade deadline cautiously.
With limited draft capital and few obvious trade chips, league-wide expectation was that the Lakers would prioritise flexibility over urgency.
As the deadline nears, however, that assumption is beginning to shift. There’s growing belief that general manager Rob Pelinka is actively searching for ways to upgrade the roster.
The Lakers have been linked to young two-way wings for much of the season and are understood to have explored scenarios that would allow them to reshape their lone tradable first-round pick into multiple selections, increasing their optionality.
At the same time, recent reporting suggests the Lakers search may be broader than originally thought.
Lakers Balancing Deadline Urgency With Long-Term Planning
According to a report from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the Lakers have been actively canvassing the league for perimeter help and rim protection as the trade deadline approaches.
One Western Conference general manager reportedly told ESPN that Los Angeles is expected to prioritise value driven moves.
“They’re going to be looking for bargain deals and they might be able to find one if they’re willing to take on long-term money,” the general manager said. “But they probably need to make sure that player is a good fit with Luka to justify it.”
The Lakers are attempting to operate on two timelines at once. There’s clear pressure to maximise what could be the final season or final stretch in Los Angeles for LeBron James, while also ensuring that any short-term move doesn’t compromise their ability to build around Luka Doncic moving forward.
Their primary expiring contracts Rui Hachimura ($18.2 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) are not believed to be generating strong interest around the league.
As Dan Woike of The Athletic reported, second-year guard Dalton Knecht has also failed to generate meaningful trade value to this point.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones has long been viewed as an ideal fit, though his availability remains highly uncertain. Other names such as Trey Murphy III and Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis have circulated too.
More recently, intrigue has emerged around Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who became trade eligible on January 15. The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that Golden State is aware of the Lakers interest, though no formal trade talks have taken place between the teams.
Lakers Exploring Draft Capital Scenarios
One potential lever the Lakers continue to explore involves their draft assets. According to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports, Los Angeles has looked into ways to turn its 2032 first-round pick into multiple selections.
At present, the Lakers can trade only one first-rounder, either 2031 or 2032, a limitation also noted by Bontemps and Windhorst.
“The Lakers have one tradable first-round pick and can trade up to five pick swaps, but they sit just $1.1 million below the first apron and aren’t permitted to exceed it, leaving them little manoeuvrability to take on short-term money,” their report stated.
Flipping the 2032 pick for earlier selections could unlock additional flexibility, potentially restoring access to future first-rounders and expanding the Lakers pool of movable assets ahead of the deadline. That approach could open more trade constructions, placing higher calibre wings and bigs within reach.
Still, patience remains a viable option. If the Lakers wait until July, Bontemps and Windhorst noted they could have three tradable first-round picks along with significant cap space and salary flexibility.
According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the Lakers are projected to have more than $55 million in cap space this summer. That flexibility, however, will be shaped by Austin Reaves‘ impending free-agency and the decisions that follow.
For now, the Lakers remain caught between urgency and restraint, weighing whether a value driven move at the deadline is worth the long-term cost.