Rob Pelinka
Getty
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka in April 2025
With the February 5 trade deadline approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be positioning themselves as buyers.
With limited assets at their disposal, general manager Rob Pelinka has been exploring creative avenues to expand the team’s flexibility.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, that includes looking into ways to flip the Lakers’ lone tradable first-round pick into multiple future selections.
“In the past month, league sources told ESPN the Lakers have canvassed teams to see whether they could find a deal to send out their 2031 or 2032 first-round pick in order to get multiple firsts back for it,” McMenamin reported. “Being armed with more tradable picks would give L.A. more options this trade season, beyond the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber.”
In that scenario, Los Angeles would suddenly have far more trade combinations available, potentially placing higher-caliber players within reach both at the deadline and beyond.
Lakers Targeting Two-Way Wing and Frontcourt Help
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the Lakers have been canvassing the market with a focus on adding both a dependable two-way wing and a rim-protecting center.
On the wing, a broad range of names have been linked to Los Angeles in recent weeks, including Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Keon Ellis, Jonathan Kuminga, Miles Bridges, and Andrew Wiggins.
Another player reportedly drawing interest is Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter, according to NBA reporter Evan Sidery.
“The Cavaliers are open to moving De’Andre Hunter during trade season because of Jaylon Tyson’s recent emergence,” Sidery stated. “Trading Hunter would provide Cleveland significant apron flexibility moving forward.”
“The Lakers are among the teams to recently check in with Cleveland on Hunter.”
A deal would reunite Hunter with the franchise that originally selected him fourth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, before his rights were sent to the Atlanta Hawks as part of the Anthony Davis trade.
Assessing Hunter’s Fit and Market Reality
Now 28-years-old, Hunter has established himself as a reliable rotation piece over the course of his NBA career.
Through 41 games with Cleveland this season, he is averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 42% from the field, 30.6% from three-point range, and 87.9% from the free-throw line.
His production has dipped since joining the Cavaliers at last season’s trade deadline, as he continues to adjust to a different role.
During the 2024-25 season, split between the Hawks and Cavaliers, Hunter averaged 17 points per game while shooting 40.5% from beyond the arc on 6.1 attempts.
Hunter is in the third year of a four-year, $90 million contract, earning $23.3 million this season and $24.9 million in 2026-27.
Any deal would almost certainly need to be built around the Lakers’ expiring contracts, including Rui Hachimura ($18.2 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million).
What level of draft compensation Cleveland might seek remains unclear. According to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com, the Cavaliers are not under pressure to move Hunter and have so far resisted significant roster changes.
“The Cavs have received offers for swingman De’Andre Hunter — last year’s deadline prize who is in the midst of one of the worst statistical seasons of his career and keeps trying to adapt to a midseason role change,” Fedor reported.
“To this point, Cavs decision-makers have made it clear they aren’t interested in a drastic shake-up.”
Whether Hunter ultimately becomes a realistic target or the Lakers pivot toward another high-caliber wing or center, one thing appears clear.
Expanding their draft capital could prove essential for Pelinka as he weighs how aggressively to push at the deadline without compromising the franchise’s long-term flexibility.