Lakers Insider: No 'Easy Answers' to LA's Trade Outlook After Talk in Locker Room

Having moved up to fifth in the Western Conference standings, the Los Angeles Lakers are in a tricky position leading up to the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6.

Appearing on Jovan Buha's YouTube show (starts at 11:00 mark), Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times noted there are no "easy answers" for what the Lakers are going to do at the deadline.

Recent reporting about the Lakers' deadline plans suggest they are a bit unsettled about how to approach these next two weeks.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that LeBron James and Anthony Davis have expressed concern about the team's ability to make a significant deadline addition because the duo believes the Lakers are "potentially a piece or two away" from being a title contender.

Buha noted on Tuesday the sense from scouts and executives around the NBA is the Lakers are more likely to stand pat or make a half-measure trade rather than try to force an all-in move that would cost them their first-round draft picks in 2029 and 2031.

The biggest problem for the Lakers right now is this trade market doesn't look to be particularly robust. Jimmy Butler seems almost certain to be dealt by the Miami Heat. The New Orleans Pelicans would probably like to get something for Brandon Ingram, but he hasn't played since Dec. 7.

Cam Johnson feels like the player every contending team will be connected to now that the Brooklyn Nets have fully embraced tanking for the rest of this season after trading Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith, who went to the Lakers on Dec. 29.

The Nets are reportedly seeking two first-round picks "or the equivalent thereof" for Johnson, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Things look to be wide open in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Houston Rockets are currently the No. 2 seed. Even though they have a roster of veterans like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, this group together hasn't been to the playoffs.

The Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Lakers in the playoffs the last time these two teams met in the first round two years ago. The Denver Nuggets have given the Lakers all sorts of problems in the playoffs the past two years, but they don't look like they are at the same tier they've been at in those matchups.

Luka Dončić, who has been out since Christmas Day, has had calf issues that have limited him to just 22 games for the Dallas Mavericks. Dereck Lively II is expected to miss two to three months with a foot injury, per Charania.

If the Lakers can find a trade for an impact player to put with James and Davis, it's not unreasonable to think they could at least win a playoff series given how the West currently stacks up.

There's a big difference between winning a playoff series and challenging for an NBA title, but Davis and James have shown they are good enough to stand toe to toe with anyone in the league when they are playing at their peak this season.