Lakers Trade Rumors: LA '50-50 at Best' to Make Meaningful Deal at 2018 Deadline

The Los Angeles Lakers' chances of making a significant splash prior to Thursday's NBA trade deadline may be dwindling.

According to ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski, a source said the odds the Lakers are involved in a meaningful trade are "50-50 at best."

L.A. is 11th in the Western Conference at 21-31 and trails the New Orleans Pelicans by 6.5 games for the final playoff spot.

Shelburne and Wojnarowski added that the Lakers' potential reluctance to make a big deal could be linked to a change in philosophy regarding free agency.

They reported that the Lakers are "recalibrating their focus" from being major players in 2018 free agency to possibly making noise in 2019 free agency when Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs, Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors and Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves could all become available.

Guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Julius Randle have long been rumored as potential trade chips for the Lakers to clear salary, but according to Shelburne and Wojnarowski, no offers the Lakers have fielded for those players would create enough space to make them worthwhile.

Although Los Angeles still appears far off from championship contention, it is already just five wins away from matching its total from the 2016-17 campaign.

Also, the Lakers are 6-2 over their past eight games and 10-4 over their past 14 outings.

L.A. boasts a deep and talented roster with no shortage of young star power. Among players who are 25 or younger, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Clarkson, Randle, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Lonzo Ball are all averaging at least 10 points per game this season.

The Lakers have a ton of ground to make up if they are going to shock the basketball world and qualify for the playoffs, but now that the Pelicans have lost center DeMarcus Cousins for the remainder of the season, the No. 8 spot in the West could be up for grabs.