![\"JJ](\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/GettyImages-2184091157-e1734002064869.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780\")
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The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be active in the trade market before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Rob Pelinka has struggled to build a cohesive roster since the team\u2019s last title in 2020.<\/p>\n
For the past two seasons, the Lakers have been reliant on the play-in tournament to try and make the postseason,<\/p>\n
Rumors about potential trade targets are already beginning to swirl. Almost every day, a new mock trade or piece of information seems to filter into the ether.<\/p>\n
Still, where there\u2019s smoke, there\u2019s usually fire. We\u2019ve all become accustomed to the Lakers rummaging around the trade market if their season has gotten off to a sluggish start\u2014and what a sluggish start it has been.<\/p>\n
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac,\u00a0the Lakers are expected to be buyers before the trade deadline. Smith noted that\u00a0LeBron James\u00a0and\u00a0Anthony Davis\u00a0are likely the only two untouchable players on the roster.<\/p>\n
Dalton Knecht\u00a0could also be kept out of negotiations.<\/p>\n
\u201cLos Angeles has tradable salaries,\u201d Smith wrote. \u201cThe only really off-limits players will probably be James, Davis and possibly Knecht (less so for the rookie, but they aren\u2019t just tossing him in deals either).\u00a0D\u2019Angelo Russell,\u00a0Rui Hachimura,\u00a0Jarred Vanderbilt, any of the minimum players and, yes, the once-untouchable\u00a0Austin Reaves could all be moved\u2026For the Lakers, the reason to make an early move is simple: They need to climb the standings.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Pelinka has enough trade chips to make a couple of deals work.<\/p>\n However, he must make the right moves. The Lakers have been too unpredictable as a unit in recent years. Any deals must set the team up for both immediate and long-term success.<\/p>\n According to former NBA champion turned ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, the Lakers\u00a0would entertain a potential trade\u00a0to send LeBron elsewhere in the league.<\/p>\n Perkins noted how LeBron would need to request a move for the front office to begin their search for potential trade partners.<\/p>\n \u201cMy sources tell me that if LeBron James at any point comes out and says that he wants to be traded or he wants to entertain it, they\u2019re going to entertain it,\u201d\u00a0Perkins said. \u201cIt ain\u2019t no holding him back\u2026Last year, Rick Paul stopped it [a trade to the Warriors]\u2026 When Golden State called asking about LeBron, Rich Paul, his agent, silenced all that. But if LeBron and Lakers get to this conversation again, I\u2019m hearing Rich Paul ain\u2019t getting in the way.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n In recent seasons, James has turned down multiple opportunities to leave the Lakers. Yet, he\u2019s consistently renegotiated news deals to remain with the Purple and Gold. However, if the Lakers continue to struggle, he could potentially look to leave so he can continue challenging for titles.<\/p>\n According to The Athletic\u2019s Jovan Buha, who spoke during a recent YouTube video,\u00a0Davis could potentially force his way out\u00a0of Los Angeles after LeBron retires.<\/p>\n Of course, the same could likely be said if the veteran superstar decides he wants to be traded, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it\u2019s inconceivable that he asks out. But, I think he\u2019s been pretty happy in L.A., and I think he\u2019s aware of LeBron\u2019s plans,\u201d Buha said. \u201cI also think if he wants out, I think the Lakers should just honor that. Because, it\u2019s like at that point, if LeBron retires maybe it is best to rebuild and just keep your picks. And then, maybe at that point, they have kept their picks and just kind of punted on this season and next season. But I think if I had to lean one way, I\u2019d probably lean toward AD staying, but I would not be surprised if he asked out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Pelinka and the Lakers\u2019 front office have many decisions to make. Given the talent that could potentially be available on the roster, Redick\u2019s team could look very different by Feb. 7.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a strange time to be a Lakers fan, and it will be interesting to see how things play out.<\/p>\n The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be active in the trade market before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Rob Pelinka has struggled to build a cohesive… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16772,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\nLakers Willing to \u2018Entertain\u2019 Potential LeBron Trade<\/h2>\n
Anthony Davis Could Exit Lakers After LeBron<\/h2>\n
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