It’s been nearly a year since the Lakers stunned the NBA landscape by pulling off one of the boldest moves in recent memory - trading for Luka Dončić. That deal sent shockwaves through the league and signaled L.A.’s all-in approach to chasing another championship.
But as the 2026 trade deadline approaches, don’t expect a sequel. A blockbuster likely isn’t coming - and that’s not a bad thing.
Right now, the Lakers sit in a familiar spot: talented enough to compete, but clearly in need of reinforcements if they want to make a serious run through the loaded Western Conference. Their bench ranks dead last in points per game, and that lack of depth has been a recurring issue.
So yes, a few tweaks around the margins - a defensive-minded wing here, a sparkplug scorer there - could help. But any moves made now need to be made with one eye on the summer.
Because this offseason? It’s shaping up to be a pivotal one in L.A.
LeBron and Reaves: Two Big Decisions Looming
LeBron James is set to hit unrestricted free agency, and the speculation around his future hasn’t let up. Will he return for a 24th season?
Will it be in purple and gold? Those questions remain unanswered.
Meanwhile, Austin Reaves is expected to decline his $14 million player option and test the open market - and he’s earned the right to do so.
The assumption is that the Lakers will do everything they can to bring both players back. Reaves has blossomed into a core piece, and LeBron, even in Year 23, remains a high-level contributor and the face of the franchise.
A one-year deal for James to conduct what could be his farewell tour feels like a logical outcome. But until pen hits paper, nothing is guaranteed.
That’s why the Lakers need to be extremely cautious at the deadline. If they do decide to buy, the target should be players on expiring contracts - guys who can help now without clogging up next year’s books. Keeping the cap sheet clean is essential if L.A. wants to retain its stars and have the flexibility to chase another big name in free agency, should LeBron decide to walk away.
Short-Term Help vs. Long-Term Vision
The pressure to make a move is real. The Lakers have the top-end talent to hang with anyone in the West, but they’re missing the glue guys - the role players who swing playoff series.
A name like Keon Ellis could add perimeter defense. Collin Sexton, if available, might bring some much-needed scoring punch off the bench.
These are the kinds of deals that make sense if the price is right and if they don’t compromise the team’s future flexibility.
But adding a non-star with multiple years left on his deal? That’s a tougher sell.
It could limit L.A.’s ability to re-sign Reaves or pivot in free agency if LeBron retires. That’s why the Lakers have to walk a fine line: improve the roster enough to stay competitive this season, without boxing themselves into a corner this summer.
Now, if a player like Michael Porter Jr. somehow becomes available - a legitimate difference-maker with star upside - that’s a different conversation. You make that move. But short of that kind of opportunity, the Lakers would be wise to stay disciplined.
Big Picture: Flexibility is the Play
The Lakers have always operated with stars in mind. That’s how they landed LeBron.
That’s how they paired him with Anthony Davis. That’s how they shocked the league by trading for Dončić.
But with so much uncertainty ahead, this deadline isn’t about chasing the next big name - it’s about setting the table for what could be a franchise-defining summer.
Whether that means re-signing LeBron and Reaves, or pivoting to a new era if James decides to call it a career, the Lakers need to stay nimble. That means avoiding long-term commitments to role players who don’t move the needle. It means making smart, surgical moves now, while keeping their options wide open for July.
Because while the trade deadline always gets the headlines, the real story for the Lakers might not be written until the offseason.