With the trade deadline just over a week away, staying composed is important for the Los Angeles Lakers.
For many players on the Los Angeles Lakers, the trade deadline will be a stressful time, as the Lakers are one of the most likely teams to make a deal before next Thursday. Due to the Lakers’ desire to free up cap, there are plenty of players that could be moved before the deadline.
While the trade deadline is closing in, there are still games to be played and the Lakers have actually played pretty good basketball of late.
Due to the Clippers recently trading Blake Griffin and DeMarcus Cousins getting injured for the Pelicans, the Western Conference playoff picture might change a bit. Even though it is still a bit of a long shot, the Lakers do have a better chance of making the playoffs now than they did a few weeks ago.
Recently, Kyle Kuzma talked about the trade rumors and the need for the team to control what they can. Here’s what Kuzma had to say about the trade deadline to Nazlie Amirazodi of LakersNation.com.
"“We can be losing and everybody could still be thinking about the deadline. Or we could be winning and we are still thinking about the deadline. It’s all about what we can control as a team.“We can’t control coaching-staff and front-office decisions. It’s all about what we do as a team and trying to do what’s best for us.”"
Considering Kuzma is a rookie, he certainly is wise beyond his years when it comes to how to handle difficult things like the trade deadline. However, Kuzma isn’t one of the players that needs to worry about being dealt.
For players like Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr., staying focused on basketball with the possibility of being traded is a difficult thing. Even though that might have affected the team at one point, they have recently performed quite well despite the rumors.
Next: What the Lakers should do at the NBA Trade Deadline
As the Lakers continue on their road trip, they will soon get answers about what the team will look like for the second half of the season. Until then, they will have to try and remain focused. If the Lakers are able to avoid distractions and earn some more wins before Thursday, the team could be a potential playoff team in a weakened Western Conference.