NBA Rumors: Lakers Worried About "Compounding Mistakes" With Trade

With another depressing loss, and facing another month or so without Anthony Davis, what should the Los Angeles Lakers do next? While many are calling for trades, there's a report that the front office is really wondering whether that's the right move at this point. 

The front office doesn’t want to compound its previous mistakes with more win-now moves.

                                                                                — Jovan Buha, The Athletic  

Those "previous mistakes" of course include bringing in the $47M contract of Russell Westbrook in 2021 that has handcuffed the team from adding the necessary pieces around Davis and LeBron James. 

Buha adds that they're still considering their options on the trade market, but "it becomes increasingly challenging to justify trading a first-round pick if the group continues to struggle."

The Lakers have lost four straight without AD, and seven of ten, and sit in 13th spot in the Western Conference at 13-20. 

GM Rob Pelinka balked at sending out their two future first-rounders (2027, 2029) in a long-rumored potential trade for the shooting and size they need in Buddy Hield and Myles Turner. That ship may have sailed at this point, as Turner is reportedly in talks with the Indiana Pacers now on an extension. 

The bottom line is, without Davis in the lineup, as is so often the case, this Lakers team can't really compete on a nightly basis, despite LeBron's continued greatness in his 20th season. 

 Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports