After months of speculation the Los Angeles Lakers did not make any moves at the trade deadline and ultimately stood pat. Even though a big trade seemed to be off the table for weeks, fans expected the team to at least do something at the deadline to improve the roster.
Instead, the Lakers did nothing and will bet on this roster that has underwhelmed thus far. Lakers fans were instantly shown how bad of a decision that might have been on Thursday night, as the Lakers were not even able to win on Kobe Bryant statue night. The Denver Nuggets took care of business against the Lakers in a game where they never truly were in danger.
Prior to the deadline, it was speculated that the Lakers would be inactive that way the team could make a bigger trade in the following offseason. That story already has more legs, as the Lakers have been tied to more stars than just Donovan Mitchell.
Kyrie Irving joined the Mitchell buzz because he will be tied to the Lakers as long as LeBron James is on the roster. That is unlikely and was the least problematic of the two reported new targets. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers also may have their eyes set on Atlanta’s Trae Young.