Lakers Hunting Picks Before Trade Deadline For LeBron

Merlin sees the Lakers quietly trying to turn a 2031 or 2032 first-rounder into multiple first-round picks, having "canvassed" teams to build tradable assets they can pair with expiring deals like Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent or Maxi Kleber before the Feb. 5 deadline. At 28-17 and only 1.5 games above seventh, Los Angeles is thin on depth while key players have missed time — LeBron James and Austin Reaves have played together in only eight games and Reaves remains sidelined — so a reliable 3-and-D wing or fourth scorer is the obvious target. Merlin notes mortgaging future draft capital signals real urgency. Turning a distant pick into immediate rotation help could nudge them out of play-in danger, but those expiring contracts are modest chips and finding a true difference maker will take creativity and good timing. Expect offers that prioritize perimeter defense and three-point shooting.