Lakers Rumors: LA 'Trending More Toward' Smaller Trade Ahead of 2025 NBA Deadline

Despite plenty of rumors and speculation regarding a blockbuster trade during the offseason and throughout the 2024-25 campaign, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly aren't expected to make a big move prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Speaking Saturday on Buha's Block (beginning at the 28:08 mark of the video), Jovan Buha of The Athletic noted that recent conversations he has had suggest the Lakers are more likely to make a smaller move prior to the deadline than a significant one:

"My sense lately, that I've been hearing, has been trending more toward them making a smaller move and probably using second-round draft capital and the issue there is that their second-round draft capital isn't really worth that much because it's their pick and the Clippers' pick and both of those picks are projected right now to be between like 45 and 52 depending on where those two teams finish in the standings so those aren't the sexiest second round picks. You typically want a first half of the second round-type pick."

The Lakers have already made one notable trade over the past month, sending D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.

In 2022-23, the Lakers made it to the Western Conference Finals, largely on the strength of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but also thanks to some savvy in-season trades, including the additions of Russell, Rui Hachimura, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.

The Lakers had essentially no activity on the trade market last season, though, and they were ousted in the first round of the playoffs.

Given that result, there was plenty of talk during the offseason that the Lakers would attempt to add a third star to play alongside James and Davis, but nothing materialized.

Despite that, L.A. has had a solid season thus far, seeded sixth in the Western Conference with a 22-17 record. However, the Lakers feel like they are leaps and bounds away from the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are the No. 1 seed at 34-7.

Adding a versatile defender and 43.1 percent three-point shooter in Finney-Smith to a core that includes James, Davis, Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht was a solid move, but it is fair to wonder if that was enough to help them truly make some noise come playoff time.

A team with LeBron and AD always has a chance, but it is important to note that James turned 40 last month. Even though he is still a productive player and far better than any 40-year-old typically would be, his scoring average of 23.8 points per game is is lowest since his rookie season in 2003-04.

That suggests the Lakers may not be able to always rely on James taking over games in the playoffs like they have in the past, which places even more importance on depth and offensive diversity.

If the Lakers don't want to part with anything more than second-round picks, it will likely be tough for them to land one of the top players rumored to be on the trading block, such as Miami Heat wing Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević or Nets forward Cam Johnson.

There are still plenty of solid contributors who could perhaps be had for that type of price, though, with Washington Wizards center Jonas Valančiūnas, Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela and Charlotte Hornets wing Cody Martin standing out as possibilities among the trade candidates listed by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

That type of move still may not be enough to get the Lakers over the hump, but every little bit could help a team that is built to win now with James and Davis leading the way.