Surprise, surprise…The Los Angeles Lakers are shopping for an upgrade. While other contenders are standing pat, confident in what they already have, the Lakers are actively searching for help despite sitting at 19–8 and fourth in the Western Conference.
Right now, the Lakers are winning, and they have made some good pick ups in the offseason. Deandre Ayton has been stellar. Even Marcus Smart has been better than expected. But even with that being said, they know that the pieces that make up their current roster just are not enough.
Marc Stein captured that contrast clearly on The Stein Line, writing, “Really only the Lakers loom as a clear-cut playoff team like Minnesota that is known to be shopping for a particular need.