Los Angeles Lakers: What to do at the trade deadline

The NBA trade deadline on February 8th is less than two weeks away. Which of the following approaches will the Los Angeles Lakers take?

The Los Angeles Lakers have some big decisions to make in the coming days with the NBA Trade Deadline quickly approaching. Will the Lakers make a major trade to improve the roster in the immediate future? Will they sit pay and wait to make their move in the offseason? Or do they pull the trigger on a deal to clear some cap?

We explore those options here.

Make a major trade

The last time the team did this was in 2008 when Mitch Kupchak acquired All-Star Pau Gasol for several players, including Kwame Brown and Pau’s brother Marc Gasol, who at the time was a rather chubby, questionable prospect playing in Europe. Pau helped the Lakers reach the finals three consecutive years and win two titles. (It sure seems like more than 10 years ago, doesn’t it?). Will the team attempt such a bold move now?

It is no secret that Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka would love to add an All-Star quality player to their young roster. However, if any player of that status is available, to obtain him the Lakers would probably have to part with a player like Brandon Ingram or Lonzo Ball.

Both of whom are viewed as the foundation of the team’s future, or else at least two if not three of their other up-and-coming youngsters. That makes a major trade seem unlikely. Of course, nobody predicted the deal for Gasol in 2008, so you never know.