With the trade deadline now upon us, i Los Angeles Lakers they are moving to identify a 3-and-D wing to include in the rotation. It is a highly sought after profile throughout the NBA and not easy to obtain, especially considering the limited margin in terms of assets available.
The yellow and purple front office can currently only sell one first choice, that of 2032, and Rob Pelinka would be evaluating creative strategies to increase the potential of its market packages.
🔍 Lakers chasing picks
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According to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports NBAthe Lakers’ strategy would be to trade the 2032 first-round pick in exchange for two or three lower-value picks. A method similar to the one used by the Suns in 2024, when Phoenix converted the 2031 pick into three less valuable picks, thus widening the range of options in negotiations.
The idea of the Gialloviola would therefore be to obtain a greater number of expendable choices to make more invited counterparts composed of contracts of Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt e Maxi glue. All in the name of an exchange for that 3-and-D that Los Angelenos have been wanting for months.
The indiscretion was also confirmed by Sam Amick, who spoke at The Carmichael Dave Show. The insider of The Athletic confirmed the hypothesis and added a specific name: Keon Ellis of the Kings, in which the Gialloviola would have shown interest. «There is a scenario where the Lakers could find a team to turn their pick into multiple smaller first-rounders, and then make a trade. This is a situation to monitor in relation to Keon Ellis.”
Ellis represents a complementary profile with good defensive readings and high off-ball performance — a solution consistent with the declared target of the Los Angelesnians (which we wrote about in this article).
📌 Operational consequences: possible scenarios
If the Lakers manage to convert the 2032 first choice into two or three picks, the front office could open up alternative scenarios at the deadline.
For example, the 2032 in exchange for a 2027 and 2029: in this case the organization would also have access to the exchange of its 2026, 2028 and 2030, thus increasing the negotiating leverage.
This type of structure would allow the Californians is a single operation of greater caliber (e.g. Herb Jones o Trey Murphywhich we have already written about in this study), both two smaller trades using expiring contracts.
🇨🇩 Il nodo Jonathan Kuminga
To complete the picture, a third piece emerges: Jonathan Kuminga. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, on the first day available to be traded the Warriors winger would have formalized a trade request.
The case has prompted multiple publications — including Marcus Thompson II, Sam Amick and Nick Friedell’s The Athletic — to confirm the Lakers’ interest in the player. «Several sources have confirmed that the Lakers have shown interest in Kuminga, although it is unclear whether negotiations will take off.»
The Warriors are aware of the interest and are evaluating the evolution of the market. In the absence of adequate offers, the twenty-two year old could also remain in the Bia (the confirmed report is that of Marc Stein, about whom we wrote in this piece).
The fact that Kuminga is now officially transferable puts him in the same scenario outlined by O’Connor and Amick: the Lakers can try to generate additional assets to sit at the table with the Warriors.
📅 Next Game
I Los Angeles Lakers they return to the field in the night (4.30 🇮🇹) between Thursday 15th and Friday 16th January to face the Charlotte Hornets all crypto.com Arena.
On the cover: Rob Pelinka during the match between the Lakers and Rockets on December 25, 2025 at the crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Credit: Katelyn Mulcahy, Getty Images)
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