At every turn, whenever the conversation about a potential trade the Lakers might make comes up, the far too pervasive response through leaks has been that they would not make a trade that does not make them a title contender. It’s fine in theory, but in practice, is highly subjective and let’s those responsible for fixing this flawed roster off the hook.
Look across the NBA. There is no juggernaut. Kevin Durant is no longer on the Warriors. On any given night, any team is more than capable of not just losing, but getting blown out by almost anyone they might be facing.