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3 moves the Lakers must make in order to become actual contenders

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 28: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball while defended by Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers during the second half of the game at Crypto.com Arena on November 28, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 28: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball while defended by Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers during the second half of the game at Crypto.com Arena on November 28, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers have not looked like a contending team this season and that is putting it lightly. At this rate, there is no guarantee that the Lakers will even be able to make the play-in tournament, let alone be a playoff team.

While a lot of fans saw this coming with how bad last season was, this is a team that still has one of the best duos in the entire sport and it cannot go to waste. It may have been expected by many but this year has still been a disappointment.

With Anthony Davis playing at an absurd level this season, the Lakers may realize that the championship window is finite and they have to capitalize on the remaining chances they have. If the front office ever comes to that realization then we might actually see some aggressiveness in the moves they make.

Here are 3 moves the Lakers must make to become actual contenders:

1. Trade Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook has played better in his sixth-man role and has not been the key problem with this team like he was last season. Because of that, it actually seems far less likely that the team will actually go through with a Westbrook trade than it was six weeks ago.

That being said, Westbrook is not the best that the Lakers can do and if they are ever going to reach their ceiling it is going to be without him. He might not be playing horribly this season but it would be asinine to say that the team wouldn’t be better off with the duo of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.

If the team continues to lose games then the front office likely won’t see the point of trading Westbrook. However, if they are going to be contenders it is a move that they simply have to make.

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