The Los Angeles Lakers are not expected to make a trade with their Western Conference rivals, the Dallas Mavericks, ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
Dan Woike of The Athletic shared that the ‘roads are closed’ on a Mavericks making a trade with the Lakers anytime soon.
"Naji Marshall has also generated interest around the Lakers, though the pathways to any deal with the Dallas Mavericks after the Luka Dončić trade last season have gigantic ‘road closed' signs all over them. The same is probably true for Daniel Gafford,” Woike wrote.
Is the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade the Most Shocking Trade in NBA History?
This comes after one of the more shocking and stunning trades in NBA history, when the Mavericks traded their superstar guard, Luka Doncic, to the Lakers last season. It was a move that left the NBA in shambles and one that no one saw coming.
The Doncic trade to L.A. changed the landscape of the league and certainly the future of the Lakers and the Mavericks. The Lakers received one of the best players in the world in Doncic, as well as Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.
The Jazz were the third team in the trade, receiving former Lakers guard Jalen Hood Schifino, the Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick, and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round pick.
Who Else Do the Lakers Have on Their Radar?
As things stand with Marshall, he has drawn a ton of trade interest, more than any other Mavericks player. He has expressed his desire to remain in Dallas long-term, but it appears the organization has other plans for him. If Dallas does happen to pull the trigger on a Marshall trade, the Lakers are unlikely to be the recipient.
While Marshall is at the top of the Lakers’ wish list, L.A. has other players they have shown interest in. Woike noted how the Lakers have been linked to Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, Clippers’ Derrick Jones Jr., and Bulls’ Isaac Okoro, as they seek a defensive wing upgrade.
The Lakers have a little over 24 hours to make a deal.
Newsweek