The Los Angeles Lakers have declared their six-player core untouchable. Rob Pelinka wants to ensure these players are here for the long haul.
The Lakers currently sit sixth in the Western Conference and are above .500. But back-to-back losses against the Rockets and the Mavs have the fans questioning this team’s long-term future.
And mind you, it was an injured Dallas Mavericks team without their two stars, Luka and Kyrie.
After a hot start and the new head coach, JJ Reddick, getting showered with praise, the Lakers have come down to earth.
REPORT: The Lakers have no interest in trading Rui Hachimura or Austin Reaves, per @EricPincus pic.twitter.com/dQYiUMOWbM
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 7, 2025
Trade rumors about the Bulls’ Zach Levine and Nikola Vucevic have remained in the papers since the start of the season.
A Bleacher Report article even mentioned Jimmy Butler to the Lakers. But Butler has his eyes set on joining Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in Phoenix.
But if you’re a Laker fan and are creating a trade, you should forget about adding these six players to the trade block.
A recent Bleacher article by Eric Pincus has revealed that the Lakers consider Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and Bronny James untouchable.
Not to mention LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the two players who are keeping the Lakers competitive in the Western Conference.
Should The Lakers Go For The Utah Jazz Trio Before The Trade Deadline?
The Lakers have made certain they won’t exceed the league’s second apron and are currently at $185.4 million for 15 guaranteed players.
The two recently acquired players, Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, cannot be aggregated in a trade before the February 6 deadline.
Due to the Stepien Rule, the most the Lakers can offer in draft compensation are first-rounders in 2029 and 2031 and their two picks this June.
In his article, Pincus suggested that the Lakers target the Utah Jazz trio, Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler, and Patty Mills.
The Lakers give up Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes.
Collin Sexton says he’s a top 10 point guard in the NBA, per @iiwiitalk.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 30, 2024
Agree? 👀 pic.twitter.com/zViZw23hJG
They further give the Jazz the 2029 first-rounder and the 2031 first-rounder.
They would also have to remove top-4 protection on the 2027 first-rounder, a $7.4 million trade exception (Sexton), and a $2.1 million trade exception (Mills).
Collin Sexton is averaging 17.9 points and 3.9 assists this season. The shooting guard can be the third offensive creator alongside James and AD.
But King James has to compensate if he wants to make space for Sexton.
For the 2025 season, LeBron has to re-sign for $45 million ($52.6 million currently). This can free up space for Sexton’s $19.5 million contract.
The Jazz are looking to tank this season for a better draft position in 2025 and want to rebuild their team.
So, the trade makes sense from their perspective despite none of those Lakers’ players being a big name.
Is The Lakers Championship Window Closed?
To think that Rob Pelinka only managed to get one Larry O’Brien trophy out of Lebron James and Anthony Davis duo is disappointing.
LeBron James, at 40, is probably the most athletic player on the team, which is quite telling.
After getting MVP shouts early on in the season, Anthony Davis hype has fizzled out.
So, is it too late for the Lakers to compete for the championship?
Many Lakers fans will tell you their hopes for a championship were gone when the Lakers made the trade for Russel Westbrook in 2021.
The Lakers traded Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezel Harrell, and their 22nd overall pick of the 2021 Draft for the former MVP.
But Westbrook couldn’t make any impact on the Lakers’ side and never looked threatening while playing alongside James and AD.
Pelinka’s trade moves in the last few seasons have left many heads scratching.
To give up a young core for an aging Russel Westbrook and take up his $47 million contract was insane.
Dalton Knecht and Austin Reaves are probably the only draft picks in recent years that have made sense for the Lakers.
When the Lakers chose to draft Jalen Hood-Schifino in 2023, they should’ve known that a young player needs to develop and get more playing time.
But they didn’t do that. Why choose a young player if you aren’t ready to develop him?
It would’ve made more sense for the Lakers to draft an older player like Jaime Jaquez Jr., especially after seeing how Austin Reaves’ move turned out.
The Lakers have no cap space and do not have the luxury to bring a star like Butler.
The clock is ticking for the Lakers and especially for Rob Pelinka.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The Lakers’ star, Austin Reaves, is having his best season. The 2021 undrafted player is averaging 18.3 points and 5.9 assists.
- In the game against the Atlanta Hawks, LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan and became the player with the most 30-point games with 563.
