It’s not easy to find a realistic trade that improves the Lakers

AT each of the last two NBA trade deadlines, Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers made some kind of move with the postseason out of reach. This year, with the playoffs well within their grasp, the team’s goals at the deadline are quite different.

Problem is: Those goals extend well beyond this season specifically, thus limiting the types of deals they could make in an already thin seller’s market. Let’s start by looking at the buyers and sellers.

Look at the playoff pictures heading into Tuesday night’s games.