The Lakers have no plans to break up their superstar duo ahead of the February 6 trade deadline, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, despite their 14-12 start fueling speculation about potential moves.
“Two players who almost certainly won’t be traded, barring them asking out of Los Angeles, are Davis ($43.2 million) and James ($48.7 million),” Buha reports. Instead, the team remains focused on strengthening the supporting cast around their All-Star pairing.
The report also indicates that Bronny James won’t be included in any deals that don’t involve his father, who holds a no-trade clause. While ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed the Warriors “will definitely” monitor LeBron’s situation, he noted James rejected a potential Golden State move at last year’s deadline and has shown no interest in leaving Los Angeles.
The Lakers do have tradeable contracts in D’Angelo Russell ($18.7 million), Rui Hachimura ($17.0 million), Gabe Vincent ($11 million) and Jarred Vanderbilt ($10.7 million). However, finding suitors has proven difficult, with the team previously unable to move Russell despite actively shopping him.
Los Angeles center Anthony Davis
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Young talents Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht and Max Christie appear safe, with the Lakers viewing all three as “long-term core pieces” on team-friendly deals. Any inclusion of this trio would likely only come in a deal for high-level star talent.
While former James teammate Kendrick Perkins suggests the Lakers would “entertain” trading LeBron if he requested it, all signs point to the franchise doubling down on their current stars rather than considering any dramatic roster overhaul.
As the February 6 trade deadline approaches, the Lakers appear focused on adding complementary pieces rather than considering any seismic moves involving their stars. While names like Russell and Vincent could be available, the team’s commitment to both James and Davis – along with their young core – suggests any deals will be aimed at enhancing, not rebuilding, their current foundation.