The vibes around the Lakers right now are... complicated. On one hand, you’ve got a team sitting at 24-15, firmly in the mix at 5th in the Western Conference. On the other hand, they just got absolutely dismantled by the Charlotte Hornets in a 117-135 loss that exposed every single one of their defensive flaws.
It’s January 17, 2026, and the trade deadline is less than three weeks away.
Honestly, the lakers news today trade chatter is reaching a fever pitch because this roster feels like a house of cards. You have Luka Doncic—yeah, it's still weird seeing him in purple and gold—putting up MVP numbers like 33.6 points and nearly 9 assists a game. You have a 41-year-old LeBron James still defying gravity when his sciatica isn't acting up. But the defense? It’s ranked 26th in the league. You can’t win a ring with a bottom-five defense. Period.
The Jonathan Kuminga Situation Is Getting Real
If you’ve been following the Golden State drama, you know Jonathan Kuminga has basically reached his breaking point. He officially requested a trade on January 15th after a string of DNPs from Steve Kerr. Now, league insiders like Jake Fischer and Dalton Johnson are reporting that the Lakers are the "dark horse" everyone should be watching.
The Lakers actually called about Kuminga back in the summer during his restricted free agency standoff. They didn't get him then, but the interest never died.
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Kuminga is exactly the kind of athlete this team is missing. He’s 23, he’s explosive, and he can actually guard someone at the point of attack. Right now, the Lakers' perimeter defense is basically a revolving door. Watching Marcus Smart try to bark orders at a defense that can’t stop a simple pick-and-roll is getting exhausting for fans. Kuminga would give JJ Redick a wing player who doesn't need the ball to be effective—which is crucial when you're playing next to a high-usage guy like Luka.
Pelinka’s Wild 2032 Pick Strategy
Here is where things get kinda weird. Rob Pelinka is reportedly trying to pull a "Phoenix Suns" move.
According to Kevin O’Connor, the Lakers are dangling their 2032 first-round pick. No, that’s not a typo. 2032. The idea is to flip that one high-value, far-off asset for two or three "lesser" first-rounders.
Why? Because the Lakers need bulk. They need enough assets to package together to get a guy like Herb Jones from New Orleans or maybe even Trey Murphy III. The Pelicans have been playing hardball, reportedly asking for two unprotected firsts for Herb. By splitting that 2032 pick into multiple pieces, Pelinka might actually have the ammo to meet that price.
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The Trade Block: Who is Packaged?
It’s no secret who the Lakers are trying to move. The names are the same every time you check the lakers news today trade updates:
- Gabe Vincent: He’s making $11.5 million and averaging about 5 points. Fans were literally booing him at Crypto.com Arena last week.
- Jarred Vanderbilt: We all love "Vando," but his offense has been non-existent (31% from three). If Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart are outplaying him, he’s expendable.
- Rui Hachimura: This one hurts, but his salary is one of the few pieces they have that can match a mid-tier star’s contract.
Is Andrew Wiggins the "Plug-and-Play" Answer?
Another name that won't go away is Andrew Wiggins. Currently with the Miami Heat (remember that trade?), Wiggins is shooting over 40% from three this year. He’s a veteran. He knows how to play his role on a championship team.
The fit is almost too perfect. Imagine a closing lineup of Luka, Austin Reaves (who is having a career year at 26.6 PPG), LeBron, Wiggins, and DeAndre Ayton. That’s a lot of size. It's a lot of shooting. More importantly, it allows LeBron to stop chasing 22-year-old wings around for 35 minutes a night.
The Austin Reaves Factor
There’s some scary noise out of Utah, though. Reports today suggest the Jazz are eyeing Austin Reaves for 2026 free agency. Reaves is the heart of this team, and Jeanie Buss reportedly "adores" him. But if the Lakers feel they are one piece away and the Pelicans demand Reaves in a deal for someone like Herb Jones, does Pelinka blink?
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Probably not. Reaves is too vital to the chemistry, especially with how well he plays off Luka. But in the NBA, "untouchable" usually just means the price hasn't been met yet.
What Happens Next?
The Lakers play Portland tonight, and then they have a brutal stretch including Denver and Dallas. If they drop these games and slide toward the play-in spots, expect Pelinka to get aggressive.
The biggest takeaway from the lakers news today trade cycle is that the front office knows they can't stand pat. You don't trade for Luka Doncic and then waste his prime with a roster that can't stop a nosebleed.
Keep a very close eye on the Kuminga situation over the next 48 hours. If Golden State decides they want a veteran like Marcus Smart or some of those future picks the Lakers are trying to manufacture, a deal could happen much faster than the February 5th deadline.
For now, the move is to monitor the "pick-flipping" rumors. If the Lakers successfully turn that 2032 asset into multiple 2027 or 2028 picks, it’s a massive signal that a blockbuster trade for a defensive wing is imminent. They have the stars; now they just need the glue.
Check the injury report for the Toronto game on Sunday. If more rotational players start getting "DNP - Trade Pending" designations, you’ll know the trigger has been pulled. Until then, it's the same old Lakers: brilliant offense, questionable defense, and a whole lot of rumors.