Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers could take familiar approach to turn season around

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 1/10/24

The Los Angeles Lakers are 19-19 over their 38 games this season. They sit 10th in the Western Conference. Darvin Ham has come under increasing scrutiny for his role in the Laker's malaise. Nevertheless, the second-year head coach reportedly still has support from multiple members of the Lakers front office.

If Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka don't intend on making a coaching switch this season, the expectation is that they will once again be active around the Feb. 8 trade deadline. The Athletic's Sam Amick recently reported that the "stage is being set" for another busy start to the year.

"The hope from on high is that Ham can pull through, which means that improvement may have to come by way of trades — again," Amick wrote. "...the stage is being set for another active deadline season in which significant change might be necessary for a second time. The list of players being considered is no doubt long, but two in particular — Chicago’s Zach LaVine and Atlanta’s Dejounte Murray — come with such a rare dynamic to discuss. Both are represented by the same Klutch Sports agency that represents LeBron James and Anthony Davis."

This time last season, the Lakers were in a similar position. They had started the season slowly. Ham's position was being questioned. And the Lakers looked like a team incapable of mounting a serious playoff push. However, Pelinka made major changes at the trade deadline, and the Lakers surged to a Western Conference Finals appearance. The hope will likely be that another round of trades can have a similar impact.

Still, it feels like every year, the Lakers are using the trade deadline to paper over the cracks. They shouldn't need to make a flurry of moves mid-way through the season in order to be competitive. It screams of unsustainability. To further confuse things, Los Angeles had an impressive off-season.

They added Gabe Vincent fresh off a starting role in the Miami Heat's unlikely NBA Finals run. Stole Christian Wood via free agency, and added veteran three-and-d wing Taurean Prince. If those additions, along with the core that just went to the Western Conference Finals, aren't good enough to compete this season, there is a deeper issue than the coach or needing some fresh talent.

Making some moves in February could lead to some immediate success for the Lakers. Sooner or later, though, they're going to need to figure out why they keep finding themselves in this position, though. Once they do that, they may be able to create some stability within the franchise.

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