The Los Angeles Lakers are not where they want to be. LeBron James and the franchise want to compete for championships, but they are ninth in the Western Conference and will likely need to win two straight games in the feared Play-In Tournament just to be the eighth seed. Even if they qualify, predicting a deep playoff run seems unwise coming out of the one versus eight match-up.

The Lakers must improve their roster this summer if they want to get back into contention. They can no longer rely on LeBron to lift them. LA needs more talent and depth. Expect the Lakers to add in free agency, but it won’t be enough. Rob Pelinka and the front office must upgrade via trade too.

It won’t be easy. The Lakers are projected to be in the tax and must decide who is expendable. Most of their current players helped them reach the conference finals in 2023. Dumping them will be difficult, but LA must explore these unpopular moves if they want to hang another banner anytime soon.

5. Sent D-Lo to the highest bidder

D’Angelo Russell has been a pleasant surprise for the Lakers this season. They re-signed him to a team-friendly two-year $36 million contract in the offseason, which most believed would make him trade fodder before the deadline. He was too good, and the franchise could not afford to let him go.

Russell is shooting a career-high 42.4 percent from 3-point range and having arguably his best season since being an All-Star in 2019. D-Lo is known to be streaky, so is this a hot stretch or a true breakout?

D’Angelo Russell has an $18.6 million player option for the 2024-25 campaign. Even if he decides to decline it and test free agency, the Lakers should try to sign-and-trade him. Los Angeles must get something in return. Losing Russell after a fantastic season is not ideal, but the Lakers may be able to upgrade their roster and consistency in a trade.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been driven by star power for years and may try to add another standout to their roster.

4. Lakers ship out multiple role players for 3rd star

This strategy divides Lakers fans after the Russell Westbrook debacle. Los Angeles gave up three role players, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma, and a first-round pick to get the future Hall of Famer at LeBron’s request. They dreamed of their new Big 3 lifting them to another championship, but the Lakers were bounced in the first round and did not make the playoffs in the two seasons Westbrook finished with the franchise.

LA added talent but did not factor in fit. Westbrook needs the ball in his hands to be at his best, but so does King James. LeBron is the superior talent, which left Westbrook trying to figure out how to operate without it. His lack of shooting and defense plagued the Lakers and set the franchise back.

Rob Pelinka and the front office should only trade for a third star if he fits next to James and Anthony Davis. They need a shooter capable of handling the ball and defending on the perimeter. The Lakers’ best lineups feature AD at the five and LeBron at the four at this stage of their careers. Can Los Angeles find a point guard or wing that enhances their title odds?

No matter how the fan base feels, this is likely the Lakers shot at title contention. Finding another difference-maker who can limit the burden on their current stars is a must unless the franchise decides to go in the other direction.

3. Gauge the market on Anthony Davis

LeBron and AD brought the Lakers a championship inside the bubble in 2020. The banner will hang forever and should not be disparaged, but there have been four years of evidence since to suggest they are not close to title contention. The Lakers are 118-118 over the last three seasons. They were seventh in the West last year before making a surprise run to the conference finals. This season, they will likely be in the nine versus ten game in the Play-In Tournament.

The evidence is there, but nobody wants to bet against arguably the greatest player in NBA history. LeBron James has lifted his team to the NBA Finals ten times and has four championships. He wants ring number five but may need a new co-star to get it.

Anthony Davis has been healthy and outstanding this season. He made his first All-Star appearance since 2021 and is averaging 24.4 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.4 blocks in 35.5 minutes per game. His 3-point shooting has never blossomed, but there is a ton to like about AD’s play.

His value is back up and now would be the time for the Los Angeles Lakers to gauge his trade market. Is some franchise willing to give up a massive haul, despite his injury history? To trade him, the Lakers would need a large enough package to acquire another star. It may not be on the table, but the franchise never knows until it tries.

2. Deal Austin Reaves for a star

The Lakers found a gem when they signed Reaves as an undrafted free agent in 2021. The 6’5 wing has blossomed into a strong scorer, shooter, and playmaker in LA. He was a restricted free agent in the 2023 offseason, and the Arenas Provision allowed LA to get him at a massive discount. Reaves is a starter and key contributor making around the non-taxpayer mid-level exception for the next four years.

The 25-year-old continues to improve, but cannot be the Lakers’ third-best player if they want to win a championship. He struggles on defense and has just last season’s run to the conference finals as his playoff experience. Teams will hunt Reaves in the postseason, and the Lakers cannot afford to have him get played off the floor.

He is close to untouchable in trade talks (subscription required) because of his bargain contract and strong production. The Lakers should rethink that mantra and start shopping him for a star return. Fans love Austin Reaves, but Los Angeles needs an upgrade to leap into the title picture.

There would be interest from every team if the Lakers put Austin Reaves on the market. Getting a 25-year-old on an affordable contract capable of being a starter and key contributor is not easy. It is precisely why LA should take advantage and trade him for a star.

1. Trade LeBron to embark on a retool

Fans would be angry, and LeBron James might even get upset if the Lakers traded him this offseason. The GOAT has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 campaign. All signs point to him opting in and exploring an extension that keeps him in LA for multiple years. James will make a massive salary if he stays with the Lakers, which is risky considering he turns 40 in December.

The franchise rewards their stars, but fans remember how Kobe Bryant’s final contract went. The legend was must-watch, but the team missed the playoffs in each of his final three years as Bryant made nearly $30 million per season. It started a six-year playoff drought, which is the longest in the franchise’s history.

Do they want a repeat at the end of the LeBron era? The Lakers could avoid it by trading him this summer. King James would draw significant interest and have a ton of value. LeBron would want to choose his destination, but several teams would give up a massive haul to land him. Consider this unlikely, but an avenue the franchise should explore.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be forced to make difficult decisions this offseason. Expect them to make some unpopular moves in hopes of getting back into contention. Stay tuned to find out what direction the franchise goes.