The Lakers‘ recent slide continued on Wednesday night with a bad loss to a Trail Blazers team that just traded multiple starters and had others unavailable due to injuries. Los Angeles is now 26-30, ninth in the Western Conference, and the team is looking for answers heading into Thursday’s trade deadline, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“Obviously, this is something that’s weighing on this group that we’re all trying to get through,” LeBron James said. “Almost feels like it’s a fog, just fog in the air. And we’re all trying to see what’s on the other side of it.”
[RELATED: Lakers, Knicks, Raptors Have Discussed Possible Three-Team Trade]
The Lakers’ trade assets are limited and the front office is reportedly reluctant to part with a future first-round pick. However, there’s reportedly a feeling of increased urgency within the locker room to make a move today to try to jump-start the struggling club, with James hinting he wouldn’t mind seeing some changes.
“I feel good about what tomorrow has in store, and we’ll see what happens,” James said on Wednesday night. “We’ll see what happens as far as the deadline, but other than that, I’m kind of just focused on what we can do to be better.”
Here are a few more trade-related notes from around the league:
- Although the Bulls are a candidate to make a trade today to upgrade their depth, they might end up waiting until after the deadline to try to make an addition on the buyout market, writes Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. “The Bulls are worried about the guys they have coming back from injury, and I know they’d like to get something done,” a source told Bulpett. “They just may not be willing to give up a young asset to get a deal made before the deadline.”
- While it’s not impossible for the Cavaliers to add another high-salary player today, it would almost certainly require them to give up a rotation piece now that they’ve moved Ricky Rubio‘s expiring contract, says Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). According to Fedor, the idea of parting with one of their regular contributors isn’t all that appealing to the Cavs.
- “Early rumblings” suggest the Hornets may not end up making a major move at today’s trade deadline, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Boone suggests the club hadn’t gained traction on any trade scenarios as of Wednesday night.
Here’s a shocking trade for you LeBron, the Lakers trade YOU for a ham sandwich to anyone who’ll take you. Lakers gain by subtraction.
There’s your action at the deadline you want.
This from a former Laker fan.
@Slick
any Laker fan that truly blames LBJ and feels like you do shows entitlement. How soon you forget the championship he brought you 2 years ago. How soon you forget the 2013-2018 teams that couldn’t make the playoffs with a beloved but washed Kobe. The team that FA snubbed and wouldn’t even meet with the Lakers to discuss joining them. He made you relevant.
He’s not a real Lakers fan if he thinks LBJ is the problem. He shoulders some blame if he’s the one that pushed the Westbrook acquisition but he’s otherwise having another solid season and the Lakers have a much better chance at winning with him on the floor. We need role players that can shoot and play defense, plain and simple.
WAS a Lakers fan (learn to read). Until he’s gone, I cheer for no one in the NBA. Basically have been watching the college game where there is a semblance of team work and a lot less drama for the Queens.
He must be trolling and james not having a solid season he having a greattttt season he avg 29/7.7/6.5 better scoring then his career avg and right on with his ast n rebs avg.. in year 19 ppl
Gotta give credit where credit is due and AD was healthy and dominant in those playoffs. The Lakers were ready when some teams were not, mentally/physically so it was a perfect storm.
Davis I like, a lot and have been a big fan since his Wildcat days. He would have been one of those tweaks that if the Lakers had made without James, I would have be happy to support.
Some people seem to think that you only support a team if they win around here, it’s more than that for me.
@slick
AD would’ve never joined the Lakers had it not been for LBJ. He brought you a chip. What’s your beef?
You have no idea who I am. I wanted the team to develop the young talent they had with a few tweaks here and there to gain success, so don’t give me that “entitlement” crap.
And that title in ’20 comes with a huge asterisk considering how the remaining season and playoffs were conducted.
To say I was only a fan of the Lakers if they made the playoffs is a bold statement considering the most enjoyment I had as a fan was the 2017 season with Kuzma, Ball, Ingram, etc as they played a TEAM GAME.
You are so damn shallow, it’s unreal.
@slick
Anyone who wants to put an asterisk next to the Lakers chip is a moron. What special advantages did the Lakers receive over the others? Every team was subject to covid rules, covid testing, covid quarantines, e.t.c. If the circumstances were the same for all teams then they all played under the same conditions. Idiots I tell you.
Imagine being so deranged you think LeBron is the problem with this team.
Lebron the player, no. Lebron the GM, yes.
I guess I’m more open minded (new definition for “deranged”) about sport than you simple minded types are.
This is LeBron’s team, he created it, if you don’t understand this fact, I don’t know what to offer you further.
@slick
And LBJ brought you a title. You’re welcome.
Lakers need depth
You must be a stupid ass lakers fan lmfaoooooooooooooooooooooooLebron has been the only consistent player we’ve had!!!!!! Problem is vogul and westbrook
That was a remarkably bad loss last night. The Blazers are a glorified G league team at the moment.
Agreed. Very disheartening to lose a game against a team that has seemingly packed it in for the season. Hopefully something will happen at the deadline and we can shake it up because what we’re doing isn’t working whatsoever.
@MC
yeash. im not a Laker fan and more of a LBJ appreciator but yikes. it used to be that LBJ could drag mediocre talent to wins over bad teams. Sometimes I think he holds steady to see what the team is going to do. but I think all they need to do is focus on making it to the playoffs and the others will step it up.
Every player traded out of Portland found out… maybe they aren’t needed after all. As long as they always play the Lakers.
Where Are all the trades?????
The real shocker would be if Lebron wants out. If he does Lakers could get some good players coming back. Enough players to do a good rebuild.
Where are all the trades?????