On January 14, the Lakers were 20-17, positioned seventh in the Western Conference. Since then, the Lakers have a record of 20-6, claiming the league's best record over the last 26 games. That includes a 12-4 record (with an eight-game winning streak) since the Luka Doncic trade.
After being comfortably a play-in team, the Lakers have risen as high as second in the Western Conference as a fringe title contender. Yet, the team still lacks vital pieces it will need to acquire to contend long-term.
Some of Los Angeles' roster deficiencies were increased after trading away Anthony Davis and Max Christie to Dallas at the trade deadline. However, acquiring Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris was an opportunity the Lakers couldn't pass up.
A generational talent like Doncic truly comes once in a lifetime, and Los Angeles is willing to 'bite the bullet' on its roster in the meantime. With that in mind, we take a look at a few moves the team can make in the summer to unlock its future.
Acquiring a starting center after the Mark Williams debacle is key
The Lakers' remarkable trade deadline looked even more promising when Los Angeles initially acquired Mark Williams in a stunning move for Dalton Knecht and draft picks. However, the Lakers controversially failed Williams' physical, rescinding the trade.
Jaxson Hayes has played well as the only formidable center in this new iteration of the Lakers. But as a long-term solution, Hayes doesn't appear to have the long-term appeal the Lakers are looking for as they build for the future.
Recent comments by Lakers head coach JJ Redick suggest the team likes playing complete shooting lineups rather than relying on non-shooters next to Luka Doncic. With that in mind, several other bigs could be at play for Los Angeles this offseason, including a 'stretch big' counterpart to Hayes. One name to monitor in the offseason is Nikola Vucevic, who has yet to be traded from the Chicago Bulls. With cap space, Naz Reid, Clint Capela, or others could also be options in free agency.
The Lakers have successfully run smaller lineups with Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and LeBron James chipping in at center. Trey Jemison has exceeded expectations in backup center minutes so far, and Maxi Kleber is set to return from injury before the season's end. So in the short term, the Lakers have some nice options, but a long-term, viable piece in the frontcourt could unlock the team.