Lakers' Complete 2024 NBA Trade Deadline Preview, Predictions

The Los Angeles Lakers don't remotely resemble an NBA contender.

Given that the one and only goal for any team with LeBron James on the roster is a championship celebration, that needs to change.

Their best bet for rounding into form is upgrading their roster between now and the Feb. 8 trade deadline. With limited assets and a shortage of difference-makers on the market, that won't be easy. Still, this is what the Lakers signed up for the second they brought in James, so they must turn over every stone in hopes of making a miracle happen.

With the deadline bearing down on us, let's preview and predict what lies in front of the Purple and Gold.

Assets

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Los Angeles, CA - Lakers guards Austin Reaves, left, and D'Angelo Russell warm up before a game against the Kings at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, Nov. 15, 2023. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Lakers' collection of assets isn't empty, but it's limited. That's especially true if they have no interest in dealing Austin Reaves, which it sounds like they don't.

While Reaves "isn't entirely untouchable," per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, he might as well be. According to Buha, L.A. would need "a bona fide third star...Lauri Markkanen, for example," to let go of Reaves. Before any Lakers fans get their hopes up, a Markkanen trade isn't happening—not involving L.A. or anyone else.

So, with Reaves off the table, the Lakers are limited on what they can offer. Their best asset by far is a future first-round pick, which could be in 2029 or 2030. Beyond that, it's probably their ability to offer future pick swaps.

Then, you're looking at players with mid-sized salaries and modest trade value, like the red-hot D'Angelo Russell or Rui Hachimura. Finally, L.A. has a few sweeteners available in recent draft picks Max Christie, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis, plus four second-round picks to shop around.

Needs

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 30: Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 30, 2024 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

While a lot of deadline discussions involving the Lakers require both nuance and outside-the-box creativity, this one is straightforward.

L.A. needs more offense—plain and simple. The Lakers are 21st in offensive efficiency, per NBA.com. If they can't at least climb into the category's upper-half, then they can forget about making any kind of playoff noise.

Shooting tops the wish list, as you've probably heard a time or twenty. In a well-spaced offense, James and Anthony Davis would be unstoppable. Yet, the Lakers might have the least threatening three-point attack in the entire Association. No one launches less than L.A.'s 30.6 long-range looks per game, and only two teams average fewer than its 11.2 three-pointers.

Beyond spacers, the Lakers could use more shot-creators and off-the-dribble penetrators, not to mention point-of-attack defenders. That's why Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, a former All-Star and All-Defensive honoree, "remains the Lakers' top priority," per Buha.

Predictions

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 27: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw during the game against the Golden State Warriors on January 27, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

While trade talks involving Murray have "stalled," per Buha, they "are expected to resume ahead of the deadline."

Given L.A.'s desperation to breathe some energy into this bunch, and the Atlanta Hawks' need to move away from a depressing present and toward a brighter future, this should be a deal that gets done.

Not even our trusty crystal ball knows all the specifics, of course. It might be as simple as letting go of D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a future first and some kind of sweetener in a three-team trade. Or, perhaps talks expand in a way that sends a package centered around Reaves to Atlanta with someone (Bogdan Bogdanović, perhaps?) accompanying Murray on his trip to Hollywood.

If the Murray trade talks hit a snag and can't be revived, look for the Lakers to still make an impact move. A glue guy like Bruce Brown or a three-and-D wing like Dorian Finney-Smith or Royce O'Neale would likely be next on the wish list.