The Los Angeles Lakers have won three in a row, and things are looking up again.
The 7-4 Lakers need to have a good enough regular season to avoid the Play-In, but ultimately, their goals align with an NBA Finals run.
Any team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on it should feel this way, even with James turning 40 years old next month.
Los Angeles has found something special with Austin Reaves as a playmaker, and rookie Dalton Knecht has also delivered on his potential as a bench scorer already.
If the Lakers can acquire one more bona fide bucket-getter before February’s trade deadline, they’ll have a core four capable of causing major issues for even the best defenses the league has to offer.
Los Angeles will be connected to virtually every big-name trade target, but GM Rob Pelinka mustn’t overthink the process.
If Pelinka has the opportunity to bring in an All-Star level scorer without giving up Reaves, he should pounce.
That’s precisely why Pelinka should seize the moment and get a deal done for Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls.
Pelinka could package D’Angelo Russell’s expiring contract, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and two unprotected first-round picks for LaVine and dare the Bulls to say no.
The Bulls have struggled to move LaVine, and getting two first-rounders for him would be a great deal, especially if those picks fall in the post-LeBron era (Chicago would ensure that they do).
For Los Angeles, the future is now. LeBron James could be retiring within 24 months, and Anthony Davis will only become more injury-prone moving forward.
With Davis playing like an MVP, with new head coach JJ Redick hungry to prove himself, and with LeBron eyeing one last run, the stars have aligned for the Lakers.
Pelinka needs to be aggressive this winter.