The Los Angeles Lakers are 16-15 and in ninth place in the Western Conference as they get ready to say goodbye to 2023. It has been a calendar year that saw them drastically improve their roster. Despite the resulting deep playoff run in the spring and optimism during the summer, they’re falling short of expectations.
Granted, they haven’t been relatively healthy for much of this season, but they have been healthy enough for much of December. That means there is now enough of a sample space to start assessing this team.
Many seem to agree that at least a minor trade will be needed to once again catapult the Lakers into the upper echelon of the NBA. Trade rumors have been swirling the last several weeks, and it is clear they have three specific roster needs.