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Lakers Rumors: L.A. Might Be Shifting Back Its Trade Timeline Yet Again

Even with more options the season continues to go in the wrong direction for the team

Ryan Menzie

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The Lakers are not ready to depart with their future first round picks, but the injury to Anthony Davis is speeding up a need to make a move. Alongside the injury issues, LeBron James only continues to get older and is still playing out of his mind. 

The team is looking to capitalize, but the sense of urgency is much lower than it needs to be especially with the Lakers currently sitting 13th in the west. Small improvements can come to aid the Davis injury but some win-now moves should be discussed. 

Although trade speculations remain high, a chance of the Lakers doing a trade sometime before the end of the year seems highly unlikely so far. Options continue to remain open but insiders suggest the team is looking to wait longer (via Jovan Buha, The Athletic).

“Not for at least two to four weeks (the end of December through mid-January), according to multiple league sources with knowledge of their plans. NBA trade history shows that trades don’t happen until January on the early side. Most happen within the final week of the trade deadline. There are exceptions, of course, and the Lakers hope to be one of them.”

Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn continue to be circulated in trade talks in hopes of adding some more depth, but in order to win-now the Lakers need to trade more assets. Russell Westbrook has been playing better, but packaging him up with some first round picks might be the best option rather than waiting for him to walk for nothing at the end of the season. 

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Ryan Menzie
RYAN MENZIE

Ryan Menzie | Lead Contributor Ryan is an LA Native who has grown up praising the greatest athletes LA has had to offer. A love for sports ranging between basketball, football, volleyball and golf, a future Sports Management Masters graduate, and being engulfed into organized sports since seven years old, the passion and love for sports never ends for Ryan. If the words he writes don't paint the full picture of his true fandom, he will find more ways than one to tell the story and be more than willing to open up a nice LA sports debate with you. Favorite Player: Kobe Bryant  Favorite Moment: Kobe Bryant Final Game. Too many moments to choose from between Derek Fishers 0.4 second buzzer beater, the Lakers 3-peat or game seven against Boston, but can't beat a final memory like Kobe's final game. 

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