With just over two weeks to go before the NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers continue to be in need of a couple more complementary players in order to truly move up in the Western Conference standings.
Some fans still want the Lakers to blow things up, citing their 22-18 record and inability to take advantage of a home-heavy schedule this month. But it is extremely unlikely the team will head in that direction, as neither LeBron James nor Anthony Davis almost certainly won't ask to be traded any time soon.
But according to one report, it is also unlikely that Los Angeles will make a big move that would significantly move the needle.
Via The Athletic:
This, of course, doesn't necessarily mean that the Lakers will definitely not make a significant trade over the next couple of weeks. Perhaps no such trade will be available to them, in which case, their only options would be to make a smaller trade or two, or to do nothing and kick the can down the road into this summer.
Their trade priorities haven't changed though, especially when it comes to the positions on their roster they're looking to upgrade.
Getting Finney-Smith on Dec. 29 cost L.A. guard D'Angelo Russell. While Russell has struggled all season and had multiple flaws or weaknesses, trading him has left the team without a true point guard who can facilitate and set up others.
Even before trading Russell, it also lacked a ball-handler who can create pace and get himself and others easy baskets in transition, other than James, who picks his spots when it comes to pushing the pace.