The Los Angeles Lakers are in a tough spot right now - and that’s putting it mildly. They’ve stumbled to a 4-6 record in December and just got blown out by the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day in a game that exposed many of the same issues that have been haunting this team for weeks.
After that loss, head coach JJ Redick didn’t mince words. In his postgame comments, Redick called out the team’s lack of effort, saying there are too many guys on the roster who simply don’t seem to care. And based on how the Lakers have looked lately, it’s hard to argue with him.
This isn’t just about one bad game or a rough stretch - it’s about a team that, as currently constructed, doesn’t look anywhere close to being a legitimate title contender. And with the clock ticking on maximizing Luka Dončić’s prime years, the urgency is real.
According to NBA insider Kevin O’Connor, that urgency is about to translate into action. O’Connor reported after the Christmas loss that trades are coming in Los Angeles. The only questions now are who’s on the move and when the shake-up begins.
“Trades are coming in Los Angeles. Just a matter of who and when.
Without them, this team has no chance of winning a title this year. That much is obvious after watching the Lakers as of late and listening to what JJ Redick said postgame.”
Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor), December 26, 2025
So let’s talk about potential trade chips. The Lakers have several players who haven’t been delivering the kind of production you need from rotation guys on a contending team.
Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent are all names that could be on the move. Collectively, they account for over $50 million in salary - a significant chunk of the cap tied up in players who, right now, aren’t moving the needle.
That doesn’t mean the Lakers are flush with assets - they’re not. They don’t have the war chest of picks and young talent that a team like Oklahoma City can throw around.
But they’re not empty-handed either. Between those salaries and a few movable draft picks, Los Angeles has just enough to make something happen.
The question is whether they can find the right deal - and fast.
With the trade deadline approaching, don’t be surprised if the Lakers start making moves sooner rather than later. Whether it’s one of those players or several, this front office knows it can’t afford to sit on its hands. The Western Conference is too deep, the margin for error is too slim, and Dončić’s prime isn’t going to wait.
Of course, every team in the league knows the Lakers are desperate. That’s where the so-called "Laker tax" comes into play - the premium teams often demand when dealing with a franchise that’s backed into a corner. It’s a real factor, and it could complicate how quickly (or how effectively) Rob Pelinka and company can reshape this roster.
Bottom line: changes are coming in L.A. They have to. Because if this current version of the Lakers stays intact, it’s hard to see them doing anything more than treading water - and that’s not good enough when you’ve got a generational talent like Dončić leading the way.