Lakers GM Latest Remarks Bad Sign for Offseason

If the Los Angeles Lakers want to improve the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis this offseason, they need to make some difficult decisions. They don't have much financial flexibility, limiting their ability to be active in free agency. Therefore, they need to rely on the trade market to retool the roster.

That means that they have to part ways with some important players or young players with potential. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura are the two biggest trade chips the team has in addition to the three first-round picks they can move. Max Christie and Jalen Hood-Schifino could also have some interest from teams willing to take a flyer on the young players. So, any trade for a high-level starter would likely include a combination of these players.

However, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka may have different plans. In the press conference to introduce JJ Redick as the head coach, Pelinka mentioned all four of those names as the team's young core.

Lakers News: Rob Pelinka Highlights Young Core in Redick Presser

This is surprising considering how little Christie and Hood-Schifino have been used so far. Reaves and Hachimura have been solid for the Lakers but their salaries are the only way the Lakers can trade for a star.

The Lakers still have Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt that they can move. Combining them with first-round picks could still land the Lakers valuable contributors in return, but their salaries are not enough to bring back a star-level player.

Perhaps this is an attempt by Pelinka to increase his leverage in trade talks by wanting to seem like he is willing to hold onto these players. For Lakers fans's sake, let's hope that is the case because no one wants to see this team run it back once again.

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