We are getting to the point in the NBA season where contending teams are going to start acquiring pieces in order to solidify their run at the NBA Championship. While the trade deadline is still months away, newly-signed players can officially be traded on December 15, making it an important date.
Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Lakers, they are not going to be able to be as active in the market as other contending teams. The purple and gold are really restricted financially because of the Russell Westbrook trade and do not have many contracts, nor assets, to offer.
There is the possibility of the team jumping into the Indiana Pacers fire sale and trading for someone like Jeremy Lamb, but it is far from a guarantee. If the Lakers want to land a true difference-maker then they will have to trade Talen Horton-Tucker. There are possible trade packages for THT, but the Lakers might be content simply keeping him and his potential.
There are other trades that the Los Angeles Lakers should be worried about.
The Lakers are already off to a bit of a slow start that has put them behind the curve in the Western Confernce. And while the Lakers cannot improve much with a trade, their contending chances can certainly get worse if other teams make an aggressive move.
Here are two possible Western Conference trades that very well could happen this season that the Lakers should pray don’t actually happen.