The Los Angeles Lakers are a much-improved team from last year in head coach JJ Redick’s first season as a head coach.

Anthony Davis is playing at an MVP level, LeBron James is showing no signs of slowing down, and the Lakers look like a playoff team in the Western Conference.

At the same time, they don’t look close to being a championship contender.

In a loaded Western Conference, the Lakers still need to make upgrades to their roster to seriously challenge for the NBA Finals.

That is why Lakers fans are desperately hoping for significant moves at the trade deadline.

The Athletic’s Jovan Buha recently discussed what we should expect from GM Rob Pelinka in the upcoming months.

Most Likely Laker to Be Traded Revealed by NBA Insider

In his latest mailbag episode, Buha identified Gabe Vincent as the likeliest Laker to be traded this season.

He was followed by fellow point guard D’Angelo Russell.

Vincent makes $11 million for the 2024-25 season, while Russell makes $18.6 million. Combining those two salaries with draft compensation could net the Lakers a starter-caliber player at the deadline.

Potential candidates could include veterans like Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, and Kyle Kuzma.

The Lakers looking to move on from Vincent is certainly understandable. After signing in Los Angeles in the 2023 offseason, the former Miami Heat guard has struggled to stay healthy, missing almost the entirety of last season. This year, he is healthy but continues to shoot the ball poorly.

He is currently shooting 28.8% from the field and 18.8% from downtown.

Considering the massive offensive liability that Vincent is, it makes sense that the Lakers would want to bring in a more reliable and competent veteran into the mix.

Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis already carry the offensive workload, so the Lakers just need to find three-and-D players that can fit around them.