The Los Angeles Lakers are playing great basketball in 2023. Los Angeles has not lost yet since the turn of the calendar year as the team is riding the longest winning streak in the entire NBA right now at five games.
This winning streak has done a few things. It has given fans hope, it has kept the Lakers alive while Anthony Davis is hurt, and it has put more pressure on the front office. LeBron James is not even being cryptic anymore in telling the front office publically to make some kind of trade to improve the team.
There are several different avenues the Lakers could take if the front office decides it actually wants to make a trade this season. Rob Pelinka is someone who likes bringing in familiar faces (look at all the former Lakers he has brought back), so we could see him pursue players that are familiar with playing next to LeBron.
Here are 3 former LeBron James teammates the Lakers can trade for:
1. Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma is one of the biggest names on the trade market this season and three weeks ago I would have told you that a Kuzma trade would not happen and doesn’t make sense for the Lakers. Kuzma is going to take a first-round pick for just half a year’s worth of his services.
It looked like the season was slipping through the Lakers’ fingers after Anthony Davis got hurt and it would be a waste of an asset to trade for Kuzma only to marginally improve a team that does not have a chance.
However, the Lakers are playing great and if they continue to play this way then the front office might be more intrigued by the idea of a Kuzma trade. Kuzma certainly would add something this team is lacking as an athletic wing and he is used to playing next to LeBron.