After winning the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, many viewed the Los Angeles Lakers as legitimate NBA Championship contenders too. Yet, their 16-15 record indicates that Darvin Ham’s squad still has room for growth.
The good news is the Lakers have plenty of time to improve their roster ahead of the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline. Several names have already been linked to the Purple and Gold., but no trades have been made just yet.
However, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are specifically prioritizing speed and athleticism.
There are a few names who come to mind who fit this mold, including Chicago’s Zach LaVine and Atlanta’s Dejounte Murray, who have been named in several rumors to the Lakers.
Acquiring LaVine would be easier to accomplish, but the Lakers may prefer the defensive abilities of a player like Murray instead. Yet, Atlanta may not be willing to let their All-Star defender go just over a year after making the trade for the former Spurs guard.
As mentioned, the Lakers have over a month to find a trade partner, but after losing five of their past six games, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka might be feeling a bit more pressure to make a move.