The Lakers remain unchanged while the Warriors opt not to acquire anyone during the trade deadline amidst average seasons.
Both theGolden State Warriors and Los Ange les Lakers have fallen short of their preseason predictions in the first four months of the season. However, despite their struggles, neither team chose to make any roster additions at the NBA trade deadline on Thursday.
Currently, the Lakers hold a 27-25 record, placing them in ninth position in the Western Conference, while the Warriors are two spots behind in 11th with a 23-25 record.
Having reached the 2023 Western Conference finals and clinched victory in this season’s In-Season Tournament, the Lakers appeared poised for another deep playoff run. However, a lackluster performance in January disrupted those plans and initially positioned Los Angeles as an active buyer leading up to the deadline.
However, despite weeks of negotiations with the Atlanta Hawks regarding a potential trade for All-Star Dejounte Murray, the Los Angeles Lakers failed to finalize a deal. According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Lakers had previously proposed a trade package including D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, their 2029 first-round pick, and additional draft assets in exchange for Murray.
With no agreement reached, Los Angeles will proceed with these assets, alongside the highly-regarded Austin Reaves, into the remaining months of the season, aiming to generate more playoff success centered around the 39-year-old LeBron James.
Even in his 21st season, James continues to excel, boasting averages of 24.9 points, 7.6 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per game.
