This season has not carried the same stress for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are 11-4 at this point, unlike in previous seasons. But the sense that they are not done making moves continues to hang around. As they get healthier, the attention turns toward what the next step will be.
The Lakers have enjoyed wins against playoff-caliber teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks, but it was the Oklahoma City Thunder who showed exactly what that next step looks like when they took the Lakers apart 121-92 last week.
The Lakers get some benefit of the doubt since LeBron James did not suit up, but the Thunder dealt with their own absence in Jalen Williams as well. Even with that context, there is no avoiding the fact that the Thunder are the ones steering the NBA at the moment.
If the Lakers want to cut into Oklahoma City’s momentum, just getting healthy might not solve the whole problem. They may need another source of firepower. Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report thinks Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis might be the guy to help them.
“The Lakers owe it to themselves to explore a potential deal for the veteran big man [Domantas Sabonis]. He provides two things that they need: better floor spacing and rebounding… Sabonis is a more aware player than Ayton and could fill the gaps that the latter does not, while allowing the Lakers to run two bigs if and when the situation presents itself.”
“The Lakers have some salary cap issues and are focused on trying to get Austin Reaves under a long-term deal before he tests free agency next offseason, but if the front office can get creative and find a way to bring the Kings’ big man on board, he could very well be the difference between watching the Thunder compete for another NBA title and battling for one themselves.”
