Over the weekend, a series of under-the-radar trades sent a ripple through the NBA - and they should serve as a wake-up call for the Lakers.
Late Saturday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers sent De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Keon Ellis. Then Sunday morning, the Portland Trail Blazers quietly acquired sharpshooting wing Vit Krejci from the Atlanta Hawks, giving up an expiring contract and a pair of future second-round picks to get it done.
Now, neither of these deals made front-page headlines. But for a Lakers team sitting in the middle of the pack and searching for answers, these are exactly the kinds of moves that could’ve helped - and that they should be watching closely.
Let’s start with Keon Ellis. The 24-year-old guard has made a name for himself as a high-level point-of-attack defender - the kind of player who can flip the momentum of a game without needing the ball in his hands.
For a Lakers squad currently ranked 25th in defensive rating, that kind of impact on the perimeter would have been a massive help. It’s no secret this team has struggled to contain dribble penetration, and Ellis brings the kind of lateral quickness and defensive IQ that can patch up those cracks.
Then there’s Vit Krejci - a name that didn’t exactly light up the rumor mill, but quietly addresses a glaring hole in the Lakers’ offense. LA currently ranks 23rd in made three-pointers, and Krejci’s ability to stretch the floor could’ve provided some much-needed spacing.
He’s not a star, but he doesn’t need to be. He’s a role player who knows his job and does it well - the kind of low-cost, high-fit acquisition that championship-caliber teams make at the deadline.
To be clear: the sky isn’t falling in Los Angeles because they missed out on Ellis or Krejci. There’s still time before the trade deadline, and plenty of players are expected to be on the move in the coming days.
But these deals are a reminder that the Lakers can’t afford to be passive. These are the types of trades - smart, strategic, and forward-thinking - that can quietly reshape a roster.
And that’s exactly what Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office should be focused on right now.
The dream of landing a big-name star might be out of reach this year. That’s the reality.
But that doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t improve. In fact, the smarter play might be to build around the margins - to find the right role players who can elevate the stars already in place.
That means being proactive, not reactive. It means picking up the phone and asking about players who might not be publicly available.
It means being willing to part with future second-round picks if it helps fix the issues that are holding this team back.
Because here’s the thing: as inconsistent as this season has felt, the Lakers are still just three games out of the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. That’s a testament to how wide open the West remains - and to the fact that this team, even with its flaws, isn’t far off from making a serious push.
They’ve been without a key star for weeks. The defense has struggled.
The shooting has been streaky. And yet, they’re still right there in the mix.
That’s why the next few days matter so much. A couple of the right moves could change the entire trajectory of the season.
So no, it’s not time to panic. But it is time to act.
The Lakers don’t need a blockbuster to get back on track - they just need the right pieces. And as we saw this weekend, those pieces are out there.