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Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

What Trades Can the Lakers Make at the Deadline? Is Improvement Possible?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Locked On Podcast Network

Lakers Highlights, Nba, Los Angeles, Lakers Podcast, Lakers Game, Sports Podcast, Lakers News, Lakers Nba, La Lakers Podcast, La Nba, Daily Podcast, Sports, Lakers, Nba Podcast, Los Angeles Lakers Podcast, Basketball Podcast, La Basketball, Lakers Basketball, Los Angeles Basketball, Basketball, Los Angeles Lakers, Lakers Today, Podcast, Los Angeles Nba, La Lakers

4.6 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 9 January 2026

⏱️ 35 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It's only early January, but we've already seen the first big deal of the year, as Trae Young was sent to Washington. Giannis says he's not asking out in Milwaukee, and the Bucks are reportedly trying to find ways to improve. Yep, we're in the thick of it. For the Lakers, it's a tricky proposition. With 23 wins, they're among the league leaders. But their 12 losses have all been by (famously at this point) double digits. So their flaws are pretty clear. So what's available to help address them? ESPN on Thursday put out a few hypothetical deals for teams around the NBA. One included Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III, a player the Lakers would love to have. Would LA have a shot? What about defense-first guard Keon Ellis, who is expected to move from Sacramento? Could the Lakers put deals together for either? And what kind of trade would the Lakers make? Would they be willing to take on salary? Would they be too tempted by the very potential of getting someone like Giannis in a summer or two? Would the Lakers prioritize flexibility? Would they take a risk on a player they'd have to commit to financially, even if it's not at a huge salary, even after getting burned by contracts for Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt? Keep in mind, the Lakers don't exactly have a treasure trove of assets. Only one tradable first rounder, only one second round pick, and a few swaps. The only remotely appealing expiring contract (meaning a player that other teams would deem useful) is Rui Hachimura. No slam dunk young assets to offer. So it's a tough assignment for Rob Pelinka. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: It's tradin' time! SEGMENT 2: What can the Lakers do? Is Keon Ellis an option? SEGMENT 3: What would they be willing to do? Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON BetterhelpBetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist.Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA. QuoMake this the year where no opportunity — and no customer — slips away. Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://Quo.com/lockedonnba.Quo — no missed calls, no missed customers. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The Lakers have one of the best records in the NBA.

0:03.2

How much better can they get before the deadline?

0:06.3

Let's talk trades next.

0:13.8

You are Locked-on Lakers.

0:16.2

Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

0:25.0

Thanks to everybody for making Lockdown Lakers, your first listen to every day, no matter how

0:28.6

you get the podcast, you might get it through Apple iTunes or Spotify. Maybe Andy, you're one of the

0:33.8

37,000 plus subscribers to the Lockdown Lakers YouTube channel.

0:37.9

No matter how you're doing it, you're part of making the Lockdown Podcast Network,

0:41.2

the number one podcast network, a sports podcast network in this or any other known universe,

0:47.5

probably the unknown ones too, because we're just that big.

0:51.1

Brian Kamenetsky, Andy Kamenetsky, longtime coverers of the Lakers with the athletic,

0:57.6

with the SPN, with the Los Angeles Times. It is an important stretch of schedule for the

1:06.4

Lakers, not just because of the games. We talked about it, Andy. They've got five games coming up

1:10.5

against sub-500 teams.

1:12.3

They need to continue to make hay against those teams as they have.

1:16.7

But they've run up a 23 and 12 record as we head into the weekend, Andy.

1:23.8

And it's strange because they both feel like a team that's 23 and 12 and won a lot of games,

1:33.7

but they also feel like a team that's lost more than 12,

1:37.5

probably because they lose those 12,

1:39.8

they've lost those 12 games by a lot of points.

1:43.0

They are a good team.

...

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