With the February 6 trade deadline approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers appear poised for another active period in the trade market.

The team’s recent performance-sitting eighth in the Western Conference with a 13-11 record and losing seven of their last ten games-has intensified speculation about potential moves.

According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the Lakers are positioning themselves as buyers at the deadline. Smith reports that while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are considered untouchable, nearly everyone else could be available.

This includes Austin Reaves, who was previously thought to be off-limits, along with D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and various minimum-contract players.

Rookie Dalton Knecht might be the only other player with some protection from trade talks. “Los Angeles has tradable salaries,” Smith noted. ”

They need to climb the standings.” This urgency comes as Rob Pelinka’s roster construction since the 2020 championship has failed to produce consistent results, with the team relying on the play-in tournament for playoff qualification in recent seasons.

Looking further ahead, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha suggests Anthony Davis might seek an exit once James departs. “I wouldn’t say it’s inconceivable that he asks out,” Buha said during a recent YouTube appearance.

“If LeBron retires maybe it is best to rebuild and just keep your picks…

But I think if I had to lean one way, I’d probably lean toward AD staying, but I would not be surprised if he asked out.”

As trade rumors continue to circulate, Pelinka faces the challenge of making moves that address both immediate competitive needs and long-term stability-a balance that has eluded the franchise since their last championship.