Why the Lakers are better off not making any trades this offseason

Following an underachieving season, there has been increased chatter surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers and their desire to find a third star to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Beginning midway through last season, big names like Dejounte Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson and Trae Young have been named as potential targets for the Lakers to acquire to pair with their dynamic duo. 

Thus far, the Lakers haven’t done much this offseason. Their most notable actions have been re-signing Max Christie and drafting Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, who will spend most of the season playing for the G League affiliate South Bay Lakers. 

While Christie and Knecht will have the chance to serve as rotational players, they are not expected to be the primary pieces that will launch Los Angeles into contention. As free agency has progressed, the Purple and Gold have missed out on Murray and Thompson, who found new homes, leaving the Lakers with a short list of potential game-changers to target. DeRozan, a free agent, is not expected to return to the Bulls while Young could end up sticking in Altanta now that Murray has been shipped to New Orleans.

With limited cap space, though, the Lakers have their hands tied during this free-agency period. The franchise’s best chance at landing a star has been limited almost exclusively to a sign-and-trade agreement. That means land a true difference-maker, the Lakers will likely have to give up at least one first-round pick and one of their contributors — potentially D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves or Rui Hachimura.

Surrendering draft capital and young talent does not seem like the correct play for Los Angeles. What the team would gain in acquiring a third star, it would lose in terms of long-term opportunity. As talented as DeRozan and Young are, with the current roster, their services would only help the Lakers get over the play-in hump. Neither would be enough to vault them into contention in a loaded Western Conference.

The trade market this year has proven to be tough, with lower-tier players coming with high asking prices. The Bucks, for example, are demanding a first-round pick in return for Brook Lopez, according to Gery Woelfel of Woelfelspress.com.