The Lakers sit in a familiar position, one they have been in last year and the year before. Should they go all-in for a player who can help them compete this year and next one, or should they prepare for a LeBron-less future? That is the question they will have to decide in the next 14 games. They are entering a crucial stretch that can help them climb up in the standings. They play 11 of their next 14 games at home, and a good winning streak might be either fool’s gold or a sign of things to come.
How a Good Stretch Can Propel the Lakers?
This year, it seems like the Lakers will finally go all-in, after wasting the last two years of LeBron’s brilliance. It was clear that the Lakers did not have a team to contend for a title, but they didn’t make any moves. As we said before, the Lakers play 11 of their next 14 games at home, before they go on a six-game road trip that ends on February 5th, a day before the deadline.
Out of the 14 games, seven are against opponents that have a lower record than the Lakers, including home games vs. the Kings, the Blazers, the Hornets, the Nets, the Wizards, and the Spurs two times. If the Lakers go 10-4, or 11-3 in the next 14 games, they might climb up in the standings, and things would look a lot different then. But if they play mediocre basketball during that stretch, the Lakers front office would be under more pressure to try and improve the roster.
Lakers Trade Rumors – Is This Another D’Angelo Loop?
The Lakers have been in a familiar position several times. And it all goes back to D’Angelo Russell. If he plays badly, the Lakers fans and people around the league have him in the trade machine. We get NBA trade rumors of the Lakers thinking of sacrificing their remaining picks, and then DLo goes on a stretch where he puts 20+ points regularly, and things look different.
In his last five games, DLo has posted 5, 7, 16, 20, and 5 points respectively. That inconsistency is the sole reason why the Lakers seem to always try to trade him, but never find a suitable trade partner. This year, his production has dipped from 18 to 12.5 points, and his efficiency dropped from 45% from the floor to 41.5%.
Still, the Lakers’ biggest trade chips remain their picks. They can offer two first-round picks, plus a swap. Recent reports suggest the Lakers are open to trading them for players who can fit with this team now and in the future. That report might resurface some Trae Young to the Lakers trade rumors. In any case, things will look a lot clearer after the next 14 games.
