The Los Angeles Lakers are approaching the stage that many fans were hoping they wouldn't reach. Having opted against making roster adjustments during the 2024 period of free agency, Los Angeles had ample time to weight its options and execute trades to bolster the rotation.
Unfortunately, the Lakers have waited long enough that they're somehow racing against the 2025 NBA trade deadline—and rival executives seem to know it.
Los Angeles has assets at its disposal for any potential trade negotiations that may arise. They're more limited after the Dorian Finney-Smith trade went through, but the Lakers still have team-friendly contracts and draft picks to combine in any potential deal.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the assets that rival executives seem most interested in acquiring from the Lakers are their 2029 and 2031 first-round draft picks.
"My understanding in conversations around the league is that the Lakers actually have high-value picks. People want that 2029 and 2031 [first-round] pick just because of the uncertainty."
The uncertainty that Buha is referring to, of course, is how good the Lakers can realistically be once LeBron James retires.
Executives want Lakers' first-round draft picks in potential trades
Whenever the time comes that James retires, a glaring void will be left in the Lakers' roster. History suggests that the franchise will simply retool and add a new star to play alongside Anthony Davis, but that's less of a guarantee than it is an aspiration.
Regardless of how the Lakers plan to build for the future, a simple fact must be acknowledged: They can't afford to trade a future first-round draft pick.
The reason teams are interested in the Lakers' 2029 and 2031 first-round draft picks isn't just because of the uncertainty. The reason they're looking so far out is the fact that Rob Pelinka can't trade another Round 1 selection until 2029.
Los Angeles has already shipped out its 2025 and 2027 first-round draft picks, and the Stepien Rule prevents it from giving up a Round 1 pick in consecutive years.
Yes, the Lakers will have first-round selections in 2026 and 2028 no matter what else transpires. This is a team that's parted with draft picks in a way that would suggest they're of no value, however, which has inevitably resulted in the current roster's limitations.
Rather than filling out the rotation with rookie-scale players who can develop within the culture and structure established by the coaching staff, the Lakers have been relying on veterans on minimum contracts.
With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that the Lakers rank No. 29 in the NBA in bench points per game. It's a trend that's all but destined to continue if the Lakers abandon the opportunity to add up-and-coming talent via the NBA Draft rather than holding on to their assets and building a future that won't be as star dependent—especially with cap space set to clear up whenever James decides to retire.
It's tempting to consider what the Lakers' future first-round picks could net them, but it would be difficult to justify giving one or both up with an uncertain future ahead in Los Angeles.