Lakers: 3 Trade Scenarios to Help the Lakers’ Playoff Push

Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers bench is clearly disappointed with the score late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers bench is clearly disappointed with the score late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers bench is clearly disappointed with the score late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers bench is clearly disappointed with the score late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

Luke Walton and the Los Angeles Lakers are falling back into mediocrity after a red hot start. Here are a few trades the front office should consider to get the team back on track.

Injuries to their starting backcourt and a few key role players have caused the Lakers to fall from grace and the Western Conference standings.

Once two games above .500, the Lakers are now five games below .500, after dropping 10 of their last 13 games. The Lakers should start winning games again once D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young return from injury, but nothing is guaranteed with a young team and a new head coach.

With teams like the Portland Trailblazers–who currently vacate the highly-coveted No. 8 seed–reportedly looking to make moves, LA should follow suit.

The Lakers playoff hopes aren’t dead just yet, but after a demoralizing five-game losing streak, the front office would be wise to at least consider shaking things up.

It is for that reason I have compiled a list of “realistic” trade scenarios the Lakers could pursue to get the Lakers back on track.