{"id":424867,"date":"2026-01-23T11:16:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T11:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/424867\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T11:16:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T11:16:12","slug":"with-the-lakers-in-a-tailspin-which-players-could-be-traded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/424867\/","title":{"rendered":"With the Lakers in a tailspin, which players could be traded?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lakers coach JJ Redick<\/a> understands there\u2019s a \u201chuman element\u201d to players looking for more minutes so they can score more points. He knows future contracts are important and his team isn\u2019t immune to focusing on that.<\/p>\n

The Lakers<\/a> have five players in the final year of their contracts and three more with player options, making for eight potential free agents this offseason.<\/p>\n

Redick talked about player contracts after the Lakers lost 112-104<\/a> to the Clippers<\/a> on Thursday night at Intuit Dome for their sixth loss in nine games.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuys are worried about their futures,\u201d Redick said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what happens when you got a team full of free agents and player-options. I think it\u2019s just natural that you\u2019re gonna worry about the offense … and I\u2019ve been there. (It gets) in your head a little bit: \u2018Played five minutes (and) haven\u2019t got a shot yet.\u2019 And that\u2019s a human thing. It\u2019s not anybody\u2019s fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

LeBron James<\/a>, Rui Hachimura<\/a>, Gabe Vincent<\/a>, Maxi Kleber<\/a> and Jaxson Hayes<\/a> are in the final year of their contracts. Austin Reaves<\/a> has a player-option for next season, but he\u2019s going to see what he can earn in free agency. The Lakers can offer him the most \u2014 up to five years and $241 million.<\/p>\n

Deandre Ayton<\/a> and Marcus Smart<\/a> also have player-options. <\/p>\n

When a team is in a tailspin \u2014 much like the Lakers, who\u2019ve lost 10 of their last 17 \u2014 playing time and points can become major issues for players looking for new contracts.<\/p>\n

\"Clippers <\/p>\n

Clippers forward John Collins dunks during the first half Thursday against the Lakers.<\/p>\n

(Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ve been here for four seasons now and every year it\u2019s almost the same but it\u2019s different,\u201d Hachimura said. \u201cYou have to survive, too, so I get it, I understand it. I think we talked about before the season winning is going to help. So, we got to focus on that and everything is going to come out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, the Lakers have to play the games in front of them. They\u2019re two games into an eight-game road trip, with their next game Saturday night in Dallas.<\/p>\n

It means they have to compartmentalize the business of the NBA and the games they are being paid to play.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is tough. I mean, you got guys fighting for contracts, fighting to stay on the team and you got other guys who are secure and got theirs and kind of understand where they are,\u201d Smart said. \u201cBut at the same time, we\u2019re all professionals and we got to come out and do our jobs no matter what. So, the human element does come into play sometimes and you just got to be able to snap out of it quicker than what we are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

1 <\/p>\n

\"Clippers <\/p>\n

2 <\/p>\n

\"INGLEWOOD, <\/p>\n

3 <\/p>\n

\"Lakers <\/p>\n

1. Clippers center Ivica Zubac scores on a reverse dunk in the fourth quarter of the Clippers\u2019 112-104 win Thursday at Intuit Dome. 2. Lakers forward LeBron James tries to steal the ball from Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard in the second half. 3. Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt battles Zubac for a rebound in the second half. (Gina Ferazzi \/ Los Angeles Times) <\/p>\n

With the NBA trade deadline looming on Feb. 5, James was asked if he thinks the Lakers need to make any moves.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I do,\u201d he said. \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the Lakers (26-17) holding sixth in the Western Conference, James was asked what the Lakers need to do to level up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s disrespectful to these guys if I start talking over the deadline and what we need to do, we got to get better, whatever the case may be,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m trying not to play fantasy basketball too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

So does James want to finish this season with the Lakers?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m good,\u201d James said. \u201cI\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n

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