Recent Lakers rumors have been about what type of mindset the front office has heading into the NBA Trade Deadline.
As we get closer to the NBA Trade Deadline, there have been plenty of Lakers rumors of late. Since the Lakers have a great young core of talent and cap space, they are able to do a lot when it comes to making trades.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, the injury to LeBron James has certainly thrown their plans this season for a loop. Prior to James getting injured on Christmas Day, the Lakers were the fourth seed in the Western Conference and really playing some good basketball.
Since then, the Lakers have a 5-10 record and have fallen to ninth in the standings. While the hope is that James returns soon, moving up in the Western Conference will be a challenge.
With the trade deadline quickly approaching, a Lakers executive told Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report where the franchise stands. Here’s what he had to say.
"“We’re in win-now mode,”"
It is a little surprising to hear an executive say that the Lakers are in a win-now mode. So far, the Lakers have preached patience with what they are building in Los Angeles. Even though they have LeBron, there hasn’t been any real indication that the Lakers are in a win-now mode.
However, the plans of the Lakers might have changed, and they could be thinking that it is time to win. With that being said, if the Lakers are truly in a win-now mode, that like means that their young core could be on the trading block.
The Lakers have been very hesitant to move their young assets, but getting the team into win-now mode would require a second star to play with James. Obviously, getting a player of that caliber would cost them their young assets.
With the NBA Trade Deadline coming up on February 7th, it will be interesting to see what the Lakers do if anything. A lot will likely be determined by the health of LeBron and their standing in the Western Conference.