If the Los Angeles Lakers intend to complete another blockbuster trade, it's likely going to cost them either LeBron James or Austin Reaves. It's the unfortunate reality hanging over Los Angeles' head as it searches for ways to follow up on the landscape-altering move for Luka Doncic.
With limited resources and potential second apron penalties to consider, however, the Lakers will find it challenging to capture lightning in a bottle twice in such a short period of time.
The Lakers have built 17 championship teams by making blockbuster moves at a rate to which no other franchise can compare. They've acquired the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Anthony Davis, Pau Gasol, LeBron James, and Shaquille O'Neal, each of whom helped guide Los Angeles to at least one title.
The latest in a long line of blockbuster moves was the trade for Doncic—a monumental acquisition that it may struggle to build upon if the goal is finding another star.
It's admittedly difficult to make this case after Los Angeles landed Doncic against all odds, but context is crucial. The deal for Doncic was one of the most shocking in NBA history, with many arguing that the Dallas Mavericks accepted an offer they never should've even considered.
Even still, it cost the Lakers a five-time All-NBA and five-time All-Defense honoree in future Hall of Fame inductee Anthony Davis—a possible sign of things to come.
Lakers can't trade for a star without losing LeBron or Austin Reaves
One of the manners in which teams have learned to circumvent the need for losing top-tier talent in a trade for a star-caliber player has been the inclusion of a surplus of draft assets. The Orlando Magic, for instance, gave up four first-round draft picks and a pick swap for Desmond Bane earlier this summer.
The outgoing players were Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who are by no means below-average contributors, but fall below the line that equates to a star-caliber distinction.
Unfortunately, the Lakers lack the assets to complete a trade of that nature. Los Angeles has already traded its 2027 and 2029 first-round selections, meaning it can't part with its 2026, 2028, or 2030 picks due to the Stepien Rule that prevents teams from operating without first-rounders in consecutive years.
That leaves just its 2031 first-round draft pick as a potentially valued draft asset—and it doesn't even have a second-round selection until 2032 to help sweeten the pot.
Pick swaps could be provided to up the ante, but even then, few teams will be looking to ship out a star for such an underwhelming return knowing what the new market is. Aiming higher than a Bane or a Mikal Bridges would undoubtedly raise the price accordingly.
To make matters worse, the Lakers' only contracts worth more than $12 million belong to Doncic, James, Rui Hachimura, and Reaves—and all but Doncic will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2026.
With this in mind, the Lakers' best offer will effectively come out to an expiring contract and a single first-round draft pick. There are ways to convince a team to take a chance on such a deal, but that will require the incoming talent being prolific enough to justify the risk involved in such a deal.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, and with all due respect to Hachimura, the end result is a likely choice between trading James or Reaves to get a deal over the finish line for a new Doncic co-star.