The Lakers are navigating more than just the rigors of a long NBA season-they're also dealing with the weight of uncertainty. Head coach JJ Redick didn’t shy away from that reality after Thursday night’s loss to the Clippers, pointing to the looming cloud of contract years that’s hanging over much of the roster.
“Guys are worried about their futures,” Redick said postgame. “And that’s what happens when you’ve got a team full of free agents and player options.”
It’s a candid acknowledgment from a coach who’s been in those shoes before. Redick knows firsthand how the mental side of the game can creep in when you’re playing for your next deal.
It’s not selfishness-it’s human nature. When minutes are limited and touches are scarce, it’s easy for players to start counting possessions instead of just playing within the flow.
Veteran guard Marcus Smart, who’s on a two-year deal with a player option for the 2026-27 season, echoed that sentiment. He admitted it’s tough to completely block out the business side of the game, especially when some guys are trying to secure their futures while others already have long-term security. But Smart also made it clear: professionalism has to win out.
“It is tough,” Smart said. “You got guys fighting for contracts, fighting to stay on the team.
And you got other guys who are secure and understand where they are. But at the same time, we’re all professionals.
We’ve got to come out and do our jobs no matter what.”
That’s the challenge for the Lakers right now-balancing individual motivations with team cohesion. And with the team going just 11-13 since a red-hot 15-4 start, the pressure is mounting.
LeBron James, never one to stir the pot without purpose, was asked if the Lakers should consider making a move before the trade deadline. His response was short, but telling: “Yeah, I do.”
Still, the veteran superstar wasn’t about to throw his teammates under the bus.
“It’s disrespectful to these guys if I start talking over the deadline and what we need to do,” James said. “I’m trying not to play fantasy basketball too much.”
Across the hallway, the Clippers had reason to feel good after their 112-104 win over the Lakers-and even more so with Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup. Leonard returned from a three-game absence and looked sharp, dropping 24 points in just 26 minutes.
“I thought he looked good. I thought he looked really good, especially to start the game,” said Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. “He had good pop… that first quarter was really good.”
That first quarter set the tone, but Lue wasn’t entirely satisfied with how his team closed things out. The Clippers led by 17 at halftime but let the Lakers hang around late, something Lue wants to see cleaned up.
“We keep getting these leads, and you lose the lead. We gotta be better,” Lue said.
“You got a team down 17 at half, we gotta step on their throat and blow them out. Like, why not?”
Still, the Clippers are now winners of 14 of their last 17, and even with some late-game slippage, they’re showing the kind of form that makes them a real threat in the West.
Meanwhile in Phoenix, the Suns are breathing a little easier with Jalen Green back in the rotation. After missing time with a hamstring injury, Green’s return brings a jolt of energy to a team that thrives on pace and aggression.
“His joy is back,” said head coach Jordan Ott. “We’ll welcome his speed and downhill ability.”
Green’s return gives the Suns another gear offensively, and if he can stay healthy, it adds another layer of explosiveness to a team that’s already loaded with scoring talent.
So as the trade deadline creeps closer and the playoff race tightens, teams across the Pacific are facing their own versions of pressure-some internal, some external. Whether it’s contract-year tension in L.A., closing-time focus for the Clippers, or getting key players back in Phoenix, the next few weeks could go a long way in shaping how the West shakes out.