Lakers Bet Big on the Future - But at What Cost to the Present?
The Los Angeles Lakers approached this trade deadline with one eye firmly fixed on the future - specifically, a future that might include Giannis Antetokounmpo in purple and gold. And if that dream becomes reality this offseason, then every move (or non-move) they made over the past few months will suddenly look like part of a master plan.
But if it doesn’t? Then we’re left asking a very different question: Did the Lakers just waste a golden opportunity to improve a team that’s already in the thick of the playoff race?
Let’s start with Ayo Dosunmu. The 24-year-old guard was quietly having a breakout year in Chicago, averaging 15 points per game and showcasing the kind of two-way play that playoff teams covet.
The Lakers had shown interest in him last offseason, and when he was moved to the Timberwolves in a deadline deal - Minnesota sent out Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and a pair of second-round picks - it felt like a move L.A. could have easily matched. Maybe even topped, if they were willing to part with a first-rounder.
But they weren’t. And that’s the key here.
The Lakers held onto their future picks, not because they didn’t value Dosunmu, but because they’re stockpiling assets for what they hope will be a franchise-altering pursuit of Giannis this summer. That’s the plan.
That’s the bet. But it’s a risky one, because there are no guarantees in free agency - especially when it comes to prying away a two-time MVP from a well-run organization.
And if that pursuit falls flat? Then the picks they clung to so tightly start to lose their shine.
Because the opportunity to add a young, ascending guard like Dosunmu - someone who could help right now and grow alongside the core - doesn’t come around every day. And while the Lakers didn’t lose anything at the deadline, they might have missed something big.
The Present Isn’t Broken - So Why Not Build on It?
Here’s the part that’s tough to reconcile: the Lakers are still good. Like, really good.
At 31-19, they’re firmly in the playoff mix and within striking distance of the No. 2 seed in the West. This isn’t a team limping through the regular season waiting for reinforcements. This is a group that, with a few smart additions, could make real noise in the postseason.
Sure, they’re not the favorites. A fully healthy Oklahoma City Thunder squad might be a tier above.
But the playoffs are a different beast. Injuries, matchups, momentum - they all matter.
We’ve seen lower seeds make deep runs before, and there’s no reason this Lakers team couldn’t do the same with the right breaks and a little extra firepower.
That’s what makes the deadline so puzzling. Adding a piece like Dosunmu - or even someone with similar production - could’ve raised this team’s ceiling significantly. Instead, the Lakers chose to stand pat, eyes on the horizon, hoping the next iteration of the roster is the one that finally brings another banner to Crypto.com Arena.
The Giannis Gamble
Look, chasing Giannis makes sense. He’s a generational talent, a defensive anchor, and a walking 30-point night.
If there’s even a sliver of a chance to get him, you explore it. But that pursuit shouldn’t come at the expense of the current group, especially when they’ve shown they can compete.
The Lakers are walking a fine line here - trying to thread the needle between contending now and building for a superstar splash later. But that’s a tough balance to strike, and history hasn’t always been kind to teams that punt on the present for a future that never comes.
If Giannis ends up in L.A., this all looks brilliant. If he doesn’t, the questions about this deadline - and what could’ve been - will only get louder.
For now, the Lakers roll on with what they’ve got. It’s not a bad team.
In fact, it’s a pretty good one. But in a loaded Western Conference, “pretty good” might not cut it.
And if they fall short this spring, the decision to prioritize a dream over a deadline deal could loom large.