One of the bigger surprises of the 2022 NBA trade deadline was that the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t complete a single trade. But, when taking a look at the current makeup of their roster, it may not be all that surprising that they couldn’t find a trade partner.
Los Angeles has very little to offer and build a trade package around. Talen Horton-Tucker has some upside but has struggled shooting the ball this season, which has likely turned some teams off. Kendrick Nunn hasn’t played a minute this season because of a bone bruise on his knee.
Those are the only two players on the team, outside of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, that aren’t on veteran’s minimum contracts. James and Davis weren’t going anywhere and even if they wanted to move Westbrook, which some outlets reported they did, no team was going to take him on.
As a result, no deals were made. They reportedly had talks with the New York Knicks about a deal, but things broke down heading into Thursday. They also had discussions with the Orlando Magic centered around Terrence Ross, but they were unable to get a deal done before the NBA trade deadline.
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The only chance the Lakers now have to add some players to the roster is via the buyout market. Normally, that is something they would thrive in. Even last season when things were bleak they were active. This season, however, it is hard to imagine them being a top choice for many players.
Los Angeles is currently 26-30 on the season and in ninth place in the Western Conference. They have a four-game lead on the 11th place Portland Trail Blazers, so a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament is certainly within reach.
But, it is fair to question how many veterans will sign up to join a team that seems to have such a low ceiling. Players that hit the buyout market are normally looking to latch on with a team that has a good chance at winning an NBA title. Right now, the Lakers do not look like that caliber of team.
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Players who could be made available, such as Goran Dragic, Dennis Schroder and Gary Harris, likely won’t even consider the Los Angeles Lakers. There are numerous other teams that have more playing time available or much better chances of challenging for the Larry O’Brien trophy in June.
