Los Angeles Lakers: Improved play should fuel urgency to make a trade

With how the team has played recently, I don’t believe it’s outlandish to say that the Los Angeles Lakers may be a player or two away.

After the first few first weeks of the season, I truly believed that this was another lost season for LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers. However, over the last nine games, the team has looked completely different. And the narrative is beginning to shift.

The narrative isn’t about Russell Westbrook, who has actually turned his season around since his move to the bench. It’s not about LeBron either. It has been about the greatness of Anthony Davis, who is relishing in his role as the No. option for the Lakers.

Anthony Davis has helped change the narrative for the Los Angeles Lakers

He’s been healthy and looks as good as he’s looked since Los Angeles won the NBA title in 2020. AD is averaging 27 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists on a career-high 58 percent shooting from the field so far this season.

Perhaps most important, he’s been available for 19 of the team’s 21 games this season.

The team’s recent play has piqued my intrigue and has led me to suggest that perhaps the Lakers truly are just a player or two away from being a true player in the Western Conference. And that was all punctuated by an impressive signature win Friday night when the Lakers spoiled Khris Middleton’s return for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Lakers are 7-2 in their last nine games and may be hitting their stride this season. During that span, the team has a top-10 offense and defense. They also have three quality wins over that stretch, beating the Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Bucks.

This is more than just a hot streak. I believe that the Lakers are starting to figure things out. Moving Westbrook to a bench role was the first part of that. He’s thrived and has really changed the narrative of his season.

LeBron hasn’t been his usual efficient self so far this season but he’s played much better since his return from injury. If he can remain healthy, you’d have to assume he’s more of the recent player than the one that started the season (as he was probably a bit banged up).

And AD has been sensational and the player the Lakers need him to be.

IF – and that’s a big “if” – the Lakers can remain healthy, they may be a move away from playing a factor in the West. The conference is wide open and there for the taking. The NBA Trade Deadline is three months away but don’t expect the Lakers to wait all the way up to February to make a move.

The Lakers have played much better recently and I can’t help but imagine that it will only fuel their urgency to make a move.