The Lakers have to ask themselves a question as they enter this NBA mini-break. Should they blow it up, or ride it out?
LA sits at 13-11 with a negative point differential, despite having LeBron James and Anthony Davis healthy and playing all season. You would think that combination would lead to a better record, but here we are.
The bottom line is the roster just isn’t good enough, and no, trading a second-round pick for Jonas Valančiūnas isn’t going to move the needle.
So, what do the Lakers do? That’s where things get interesting. They have enough assets to make a move for a decent player, but not nearly enough to bring in the third star they need to push them into championship contention.
Sure, adding some depth would help (because let’s be real, have you seen that bench?), but when LeBron and AD are on the floor together, they’re still getting outscored by 7.7 points per 100 possessions. That’s a problem.
Now, here’s where it gets bold: Could the Lakers blow it up? And no, not in the way of tanking for a high draft pick (after all, the Hawks have their unprotected pick). The real reason to consider moving James and Davis is the massive trade value both of those players still hold.
These are guys who could bring back a king’s ransom in draft capital — think Thunder-style rebuilding, where you flip your aging superstars for a future that could make you contenders again much quicker than you think.
The catch? That trade value isn’t going to stay at this level forever. James is aging fast, and while his value is sky-high now, in a few months, that could change. So here’s the big question: Is now the time to cash in?
Maybe that’s what the Lakers are thinking … but James has a no-trade clause. Unless you’re trading him to a major contender, don’t bank on him waiving it. And probably not even then (especially since, ya know, his son also plays in LA).
Realistically, it’s more likely the Lakers make a drastic move in the offseason rather than mid-season, but front offices don’t work by “realistically” anymore. They’re always prepping for the unlikely-but-possible. So keep an eye on L.A. They could surprise us all.
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