Lakers Expected to Be Aggressive at Trade Deadline as Defensive Issues Mount

The Los Angeles Lakers are widely expected to pursue a 3-and-D wing ahead of the February 5 NBA trade deadline, but league insiders believe their plans may extend well beyond a single move. With defensive struggles becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, the Lakers’ front office could be preparing for a more significant reshaping of the roster.

According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, general manager Rob Pelinka and the front office are evaluating broader changes in response to the team’s uneven performance, particularly on the defensive end.

“I think maybe they do a couple moves and that reshapes the roster with two or three new players,” Buha said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“Right now, adding a [3-and-D] player would help for sure. I just think it’s deeper than one player.”

Buha’s comments suggest that while adding a wing defender remains a priority, the Lakers view their issues as systemic rather than easily fixable with a single acquisition.

Familiar Names, Familiar Questions

As expected, Buha mentioned several frequently linked trade targets, including Herb Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans, Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat, Keon Ellis of the Sacramento Kings, and Ayo Dosunmu of the Chicago Bulls. All fit the general mold of perimeter defenders who can contribute offensively without dominating the ball.

However, Buha expressed skepticism about whether any one of those players would fundamentally change the Lakers’ standing in the Western Conference.

“I don’t know how much those guys are actually solving their direct problems to a degree that changes their status in the West,” Buha said.

That hesitation reflects a broader concern around the league: while the Lakers have identifiable needs, the gap between them and the West’s elite teams may require more than incremental upgrades.

Trade Assets and Flexibility

From an asset standpoint, the Lakers are not without options. They control one tradeable first-round pick (either 2031 or 2032) and possess several expiring contracts, including Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber, which could be used to facilitate deals without sacrificing long-term flexibility.

The challenge for Pelinka will be balancing urgency with restraint. With LeBron James still performing at an elite level and Anthony Davis anchoring both ends of the floor, the Lakers remain competitive. But the front office must decide how aggressively to push in a Western Conference that continues to get younger, deeper, and faster.

Echoes of the 2023 Deadline

There are clear parallels to the 2023 trade deadline, when the Lakers dramatically reshaped their roster. That season, Los Angeles acquired Rui Hachimura from Washington before pulling off a multi-team deal that brought in D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt.

Those moves transformed the team. The Lakers surged from the 10th seed to the 7th seed in the final month of the regular season and rode that momentum all the way to the Western Conference Finals. While they were ultimately swept by Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets, the midseason overhaul undeniably altered their trajectory.

Whether Pelinka has a similar plan in motion remains to be seen, but league observers believe the Lakers are at another crossroads.

Defensive Metrics Tell the Story

By nearly every advanced metric, the Lakers’ performance has been underwhelming relative to their record. Despite sitting at 20–10, they rank 23rd in defensive rating, seventh in offensive rating, and 15th in net rating. They are the only top-six seed in either conference ranked 23rd or worse defensively, with a point differential hovering under one.

In fact, before Sunday’s 125–101 win over the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers carried a negative net rating, a red flag for a team with championship aspirations.

Those numbers help explain why the front office appears reluctant to settle for cosmetic fixes. The Lakers aren’t simply one defender away—they may need a recalibration of roles, lineups, and personnel.

A Crucial Stretch Ahead

The Lakers completely reshaped their roster ahead of the 2023 deadline with a series of moves. First, they shipped Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks for Rui Hachimura, and followed it up with a multi-team trade that brought back D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. Those moves paid off in a big way as the Lakers jumped from the 10th seed to the 7th seed in the last month of the regular season en route to the Western Conference Finals. While they got swept by Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets in the West Finals, the Lakers definitely benefited from those midseason trades.

The urgency is only increasing. The Lakers are set to face the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons (24–8) in a marquee matchup on Tuesday—a game that will also coincide with LeBron James’ 41st birthday. Entering the contest, Los Angeles is listed as a 2.5-point underdog, underscoring how thin the margin remains between contender and pretender.

As the trade deadline approaches, one thing is clear: the Lakers are aware that standing still is not an option. Whether that results in one move or several, the next few weeks could define their ceiling in a loaded Western Conference.

If history is any guide, Rob Pelinka won’t be afraid to act—especially if the alternative is wasting another year of elite play from LeBron James.

By all accounts, the Lakers need more than just a few minor tweaks to compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. They rank below all four of those powerhouses in offensive rating (seventh), defensive rating (23rd) and net rating (15th). The Lakers are the only top-six seed in either conference to rank 23rd or under in defense with a point differential of under a point. In fact, they had a negative net rating before Sunday’s 125-101 win over the Sacramento Kings, a sign of a team that has been anything but dominant through 30 games. The Lakers (20-10) will face the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons (24-8), in a blockbuster clash on Tuesday. They enter the game, which will be played on LeBron James‘ 41st birthday, as a -2.5 point underdog.