NBA Rumors: Lakers Weighing Multiple Trade Paths, Will Be 'Patient' in Coming Weeks

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers have had more than half of the season to evaluate their roster, they still need more time to figure out their direction leading up to the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

Per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the Lakers are considering three different paths and plan to "remain patient" over the next two weeks to avoid making a rash decision and hope the asking price for some players goes down the closer it gets to the deadline.

The paths include standing pat to keep all of their assets, make a "a small-to-medium move" that upgrades a single roster spot and/or fill a roster need or pursue a "more significant move" by adding at least one significant contributor.

It's not even clear if the latter deal is really out there. Dejounte Murray and Zach LaVine, who have both been connected to the Lakers, are notable names who would likely cost something significant, but what evidence is there that either one of them is a difference-maker on a team trying to win a title?

Murray's lone All-Star appearance was two years ago when he was the best player on a San Antonio Spurs team that went 34-48. He could get back to that level as the primary point guard in Los Angeles, but his once-strong defense hasn't looked the same recently.

There's also the potential concern that Murray's four-year, $114.1 million extension that was signed in July doesn't even kick in until the 2024-25 season.

LaVine has long had a reputation of being a player whose stats outweigh his ability to impact winning games. It doesn't help his case that the Chicago Bulls are 10-8 without him this season, compared to 10-15 with him.

While there might be an air of impatience hovering over Crypto.com Arena from Lakers fans frustrated by the team's 21-21 record, patience is probably the best approach at this point because there don't appear to be any significant difference-makers out there right now.

General manager Rob Pelinka didn't make his first notable deal last season until Jan. 23 when he acquired Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards. The Russell Westbrook trade didn't happen until deadline day on Feb. 9.

There's also the question of what's worth trading because it doesn't make sense to give up an asset of significant value, like a first-round pick in 2029 or 2030, that's not going to definitively put the Lakers in title contention.

Everything should be geared toward trying to maximize however many years the Lakers have left with LeBron James, but that shouldn't cloud the reality of the situation Pelinka and the front office find themselves with this roster right now.