The Los Angeles Lakers want to upgrade their roster before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but their only path to making the perfect deal is giving up all their remaining assets. They have no plans of trading Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, or LeBron James, but LA has a massive hole to fill. The Lakers need more athleticism after the deficit was on full display. There is only one path to filling the hole.
Rob Pelinka can trade one first-round draft pick, a couple of first-round pick swaps, Dalton Knecht, Adou Theiro, and expiring contracts to match salary. New owner Mark Walter could flex his powers in his first trade deadline. The Lakers will be in on any 3-and-D wing, but stealing an elite one won’t be easy.
Nobody thought Los Angeles would trade for Luka Doncic. Pelinka even kept Austin Reaves and one tradeable first-round draft pick out of the deal. The Mavericks got Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and just one first-round selection for one of the top four players in the world. Pelinka is clearly a wizard, but there is only one path to pulling off another heist.
Lakers must go all-in to make another Luka Doncic-level heist
LA has their sights set on title contention. They have already outperformed expectations and have three stars leading their roster. The Lakers have to be all-in. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are in their primes. LeBron James turns 41 years old at the end of December. There is no time to wait.
The Lakers have been linked to names like Herb Jones, but the current Pelicans forward is one of the best defenders in the NBA. Getting him out of New Orleans would take plenty of convincing, including selling the Pels that Dalton Knecht and Adou Theiro are future pieces to build around.
Getting anyone in consideration for the All-Defensive teams for one first-round draft pick and expiring contracts would be a heist, but that is exactly what Pelinka and the Lakers front office have to pull off if they want to have a serious shot to knock off the Thunder, Nuggets, or Rockets in the playoffs.
Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Jaxson Hayes give the Lakers $44.2 million in expiring salaries to trade. They would love to keep Hachimura for his shot-making, but a 2031 or 2032 first-round draft pick doesn’t have unlimited value. Teams will want Rui involved to flip for more draft picks.
Pelinka has executed two masterful trade deadlines since 2023. He landed Luka Doncic out of nowhere in 2025 and sent Russell Westbrook packing in a series of trades that led LA to the 2023 conference finals. Does he have another ace up his sleeve? Fans certainly hope so.
The Los Angeles Lakers' path to another Luka Doncic-level trade deadline heist is to be willing to include all their expiring contracts, young players, and tradeable draft capital. It could be just enough to acquire the difference-maker Los Angeles needs for a deep playoff run. Now, it is on Pelinka and the front office to go find the right deal. History suggests the Lakers just might do it.