It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers are in win-now mode.
The 17-time NBA champions acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks last season, hoping to raise their ceiling to an elevated level. While the Lakers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, the franchise has high expectations going forward.
That said, Los Angeles needs to make another blockbuster/game-changing trade if it wants to reach their full potential under second-year head coach JJ Redick.
Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts believes that pulling off another ‘Luka Doncic-level heist’ via trade isn’t out of the realm of possibility for the Lakers.
“Lakers must go all-in to make another Luka Doncic-level heist,” Watts wrote Sunday.
“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.”
“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 (Rob) 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.”
The Lakers need all the defensive help they can get. Los Angeles is currently surrendering 116.8 points per game, which ranks 18th in the league.
Redick’s 17-7 crew has also struggled mightily defending the three through the first 24 games of the year, ranking 28th in opponent three-point percentage (38.2%).
To add insult to injury, the Lakers rank 16th in perimeter shooting efficiency thus far, making it necessary for the organization to trade for a two-way contributor who would make an immediate impact in Los Angeles.
Assets like Trey Murphy III and Andrew Wiggins undoubtedly fit the bill, but it’ll be up to the Lakers to make a deal come to fruition this season.
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