Lakers Remain Quiet During Loud Trade Deadline

Written by Malcolm Xavier of The Lakers Room

The Lakers are waiting for summer. Apparently, the first two seasons of the "Luka Doncic timeline" may be spent as a middling Western Conference team - it could be worse I guess. Unless something happens for the Lakers in the next FIVE HOURS. That's how long remain's until the 2026 NBA Trade deadline is official at 3 PM E.T. Then we have to hope this team that has proven inconsistent and defensively incapable of competing with top teams does the opposite of what it's done in big games this year. If no trade happens and the trajectory remains, the Lakers season should end up alot like the 2025 season, outmatched by a physical Western conference opponent and dispatched to Cancun. Let's hope the Lakers pull something off in the next few hours to at the LEAST find Dalton Knecht a new home. Rob Pelinka pulled off the trade of NBA History last year, but in pro sports all that matter's is what you're doing for the organization and fans right now and currently, the base wants a move made to have a chance to contend this season instead of saving draft assets for a move on Giannis in the summer. Lets review the trades that have happened to reshape the league days and assess our opinion of who won.

Trae Young to the Wizards -CJ McCollum Corey Kispert

Winner: Wizards - Trae Young has proven his ability to lead a franchise and the upside he brings to the nation's capital have high upside potential vs the expected return in Atlanta to bolster their lineup in the short term.

James Harden to the Cavs - Darius Garland Future 2nd Round Pick

Winner: LA Clippers - for one simple reason, they got ten years younger at the position. If Garland can remain healthy he should be the PG of the future with years to come with Harden on the way out although still highly effective. Cleveland in win now mode so it works for them also.

Jaren Jackson Jr, Jock Landale, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr to the Jazz - Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and 3 Future First

Winner - Memphis mostly for the three future first round picks. That's big, they have a big future to rebuild along with the picks acquired fro Desmond Bane. Ja Morant remains the only pillar now Bane, Brooks and Jackson Jr have all departed.

Kevin Heurter, Dario Saric and 2026 first round swap to Detroit - Mike Conley Jr and Jaden Ivy to Chicago Minnesota receives cash considerations.

Winner - Detroit and Chicago both receive solid role players in Ivey and Huerter I'll give the nod to the Pistons as adding Huerter bolsters there teams ability to compete this year and they got a first round swap.

Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder and Emanuel Miller to the Cavaliers. De'Andre Hunter to Sacramento and Saric (rerouted to DET) to Chicago

Winner: Cavs along with Harden they have alot of backcourt depth for this years Eastern Conference playoffs and should be considered a real contender.

Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Lo and Dante Exum to the Wizards. Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III two 1st round picks and three second rounders to Dallas.

Winner - Mavs, they got off the Anthony Davis salary and got two 1st round picks out of the deal. The Wizards got better no doubt, but where AD career goes from here, nobody knows.