The Los Angeles Lakers have spent weeks drawing scrutiny for their inconsistency, defensive lapses, and internal tension. On many nights, they look like a team headed toward a major shakeup. Yet the standings tell a very different story.
Despite their struggles, the Lakers sit third in the Western Conference, a position that fundamentally alters their trade calculus. Rather than signaling panic, their record suggests opportunity. For a franchise built around championships, being this high in the standings makes a deadline move more likely, not less.
Winning enough to believe, losing badly enough to worry
The Lakers’ last ten games capture the contradiction perfectly. They have picked up quality wins against the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings, showing they can score in bunches and close games when execution is sharp.
At the same time, their losses have been alarming. Blowout defeats against the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers highlight a troubling pattern. When the Lakers lose, they often collapse defensively, offering little resistance once momentum turns.
Statistically, they remain among the league’s worst defensive teams. Perimeter containment is unreliable, transition defense breaks down too easily, and rotations frequently arrive late. Those issues are survivable in January. They are fatal in May.
Why Austin Reaves is suddenly central to Lakers trade talks
Another development quietly reshaping the Lakers’ plans is the injury to Austin Reaves. Before going down, Reaves was playing the best basketball of his career and was on a legitimate All-Star trajectory. Around the league, his value has never been higher.
That creates a harsh reality. The Lakers’ so-called Big Three of LeBron James, Reaves, and Luka Dončić has not consistently worked. Lineups featuring all three have struggled to defend, and the offense often flows better when only two are on the floor while the third sits.
In theory, LeBron could scale back into a 10-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist role to improve balance. In practice, that kind of adjustment is not typical for him, especially for a team built around his decision-making. With LeBron holding a no-trade clause, the front office’s flexibility is limited.
That leaves Reaves as the most realistic high-value trade chip. His contract, age, and efficiency make him attractive to multiple teams, particularly those seeking a secondary creator who does not dominate possessions. Moving him would not reflect dissatisfaction with his performance, but rather an acknowledgment that roster balance and defense are bigger priorities.
Lakers chemistry concerns are accelerating the timeline
The recent controversy surrounding head coach JJ Redick has only intensified the urgency. Public criticism, locker-room frustration, and visible defensive indifference rarely coexist in stable contenders. When chemistry issues surface alongside poor defense, front offices tend to act sooner rather than later.
A trade has not happened yet, but the direction is becoming clearer. Sitting third in the West removes excuses for patience. The Lakers are not trying to fix a broken team. They are trying to sharpen a flawed contender before the window narrows further.
If a deal comes, it will likely center on defense and fit rather than star power. And if Austin Reaves is the one moved, it will be because the Lakers believe standing still poses a greater risk than making a difficult choice before the deadline.