As The Athletic reported after the Finney-Smith commerce, the Lakers stay energetic on the commerce market in pursuit of upgrades, in line with staff and league sources. They proceed to judge their roster and are cautiously optimistic that Jarred Vanderbilt’s looming return will give them readability as to which positions and abilities they want most. With simply over two weeks remaining till the deadline, although, it’s time to evaluate whether or not this group is working out of time. The sense across the league, when speaking to rival scouts and front-office personnel, is that standing pat or making a half-measure commerce (probably one or two second-round picks) is extra probably than the Lakers going all-in and buying and selling each of their future first-round picks that may be moved. That’s dependent, in fact, on the out there gamers, asking costs and the staff’s efficiency by means of the deadline. -via New York Occasions / January 21, 2025
