Help needed: Time is running out for the Lakers

Heading into the NBA trade deadline, the Lakers are in sixth place in the Western Conference with a record of 29-19, not bad considering LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have only played 140 minutes together because of injuries to James and Reaves. 

We don’t know how good the Lakers could be once that trio develops a rhythm.

But we do know this: The Lakers need help on defense.  

They’re 25th in defense rating and they’re allowing their opponents to make 68.3 percent of their shots from five feet or less, with only the Jazz and Kings allowing better percentages. 

Remember when Rudy Gobert looked like Shaquille O’Neal in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against Minnesota last April? Well, that wasn’t an anomaly. 

The Lakers are trying to target a big defensive-minded wing who can patrol the paint as well as spread the court by making 3s. But they’re hampered by being pressed against the first luxury tax apron, they only have a single tradable first-round pick and a single second-round pick and they don’t want to take on contracts past this season. 

But when it comes to the trade deadline, general manager Rob Pelinka is hard to predict. 

He stood pat in 2022 and 2024. But in 2023, he moved Russell Westbrook and acquired six players, which led to the team reaching the Western Conference Finals. Last February, Pelinka helped orchestrate the most shocking trade in NBA history, dealing Anthony Davis for Doncic. 

Heading into this year’s trade deadline, if Pelinka makes a move, it will likely be around the margins.

Focusing on the offseason makes the most sense for the Lakers. 

They can create substantial cap space then and make big-time moves to build around  Doncic. They’ll go from having one tradable first-round pick to three at that time. Not to mention, James, Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes will become unrestricted free agents, while Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart could join them if they decline their player options. 

That said, it would be a shame to waste Doncic’s MVP-caliber campaign this season — as well as potentially James’ final year with the team — by not making a move that would put the Lakers in a position to compete for a championship now. 

The Lakers had been eyeing De’Andre Hunter and Keon Ellis, but they were just traded for each other as part of a three-team deal. Walker Kessler has been a dream target for a while, but he’s sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. 

With the dearth of available 3&D players, the Lakers’ restrictions and their long term goals, their options are limited.

New Orleans’ defensive wiz, Herb Jones, would be a great fit, but apparently his asking price is too high and would include two first-round picks. 

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Some other names the Lakers could target include Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Donte DiVincenzo and Troy Murphy III.

Some of those players also have steep asking prices, and it remains to be seen whether they’ll come down in the next 72 hours so the Lakers could get a deal done to bolster their defensive presence. 

The Lakers are going to pour their resources into reshaping the team this offseason.

So, until then, Doncic, James and Reaves might have to hope that their offensive becomes so stellar that it can compensate for their defensive holes, unless Pelinka can make something happen by Thursday.