Lakers’ Best Trade Deadline Options to Help LeBron James and Luka Doncic Compete Now
With just 24 hours left before the NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers still have work to do. Sources close to the team suggest there’s newfound optimism within the organization about competing immediately, especially with the addition of 25-year-old Luka Doncic. The Lakers have several options remaining to improve their roster, and Rob Pelinka has acknowledged at least one immediate need.
The central question remains whether the market will offer enough suitable options at a price Pelinka is willing to pay.
So, without further delay, let’s explore how the Lakers can give Doncic and LeBron James a real shot at competing for a championship this season.
Center Focus The Lakers needed a center before trading Anthony Davis, and now their center rotation consists of only Jaxson Hayes. Hayes could be an effective lob threat with creators like Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves, but he remains prone to foul trouble and has missed time due to injuries this season.
Christian Wood has been sidelined all season, and it seems unlikely that he will return. Maxi Kleber, who broke his foot in January, is also expected to remain out for the rest of the season. Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison III are both solid two-way players, but to compete for a championship, the Lakers need more.
Pelinka mentioned at Doncic’s press conference that the Lakers require more help at center, though he also suggested the center market has dried up, indicating fewer available players at affordable prices. If this is the case, the Lakers will need to get creative.
Reports indicate the Lakers are shopping Kleber and draft picks to acquire a healthy big man. They’re also willing to move Wood, Cam Reddish (who has been absent recently for personal reasons), and lower-tier draft picks to land a center, though this typically only happens once other options are exhausted.
If Pelinka decides to make a significant move involving their remaining first-rounder, players like Nic Claxton or Robert Williams III could be in play. The Lakers have engaged in talks with both the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers, but they are hesitant to disrupt their core rotation.
Claxton, making $27 million, would require sending out both Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent, plus the first-round pick, a second, and possibly a swap. Williams, earning $12.4 million, has injury concerns, and the Trail Blazers are demanding an unprotected first-rounder, which has made the Lakers cautious.
Perimeter Options With Doncic, James, and Reaves leading the charge, the Lakers’ need for creation and playmaking is addressed. Gabe Vincent has also played well recently, providing some stability to the bench. When JJ Redick sorts out the minute distribution for primary creators, bench offense shouldn’t be a major issue, especially after trading D’Angelo Russell.
However, trading Max Christie means the Lakers lose their best perimeter defender, a point Redick noted during the Clippers’ blowout win. Trading Vincent would have similar consequences since he’s their last true point-of-attack defender at point guard. Finding a player who can defend like Vincent while contributing offensively is unlikely.
Bruce Brown remains an option for the Lakers, but acquiring him is complicated. The Lakers would have to move several players, such as Hachimura, Wood, Hayes, and Reddish, plus a second-round pick, or clear enough cap space to sign him via buyout. Neither scenario seems likely at the moment.
If the Lakers manage to clear a roster spot and create the necessary flexibility, a more realistic buyout option than Brown might be on the table.
Miscellaneous Considerations An important factor as the Lakers hold onto their 2031 first-round pick is their limited flexibility with draft compensation beyond this year. They do not have their own pick this summer and owe a protected 2027 first-rounder to the Utah Jazz. Additionally, the 2029 pick now belongs to the Dallas Mavericks after the Doncic trade.