One thing the Los Angeles Lakers need to do, among other things, before the start of the NBA regular season next week is get their roster down to 15 players who are signed to standard contracts. They currently have 16 such players, and there has been speculation that, as a result, a trade could happen.
The ideal type of trade to solve this roster situation would be a "consolidation" trade that sends out two players in return for one player. It remains to be seen if the Lakers can get anything in return for players such as Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy or Bronny James, three men who have come up as candidates to either be traded or released in the coming days.
NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the Lakers are one team that is still exploring trades in the final days before the start of the regular season.
"The [Los Angeles] Clippers waiving Cam Christie leaves Charlotte, Milwaukee, Memphis and the Lakers as the most pertinent back-of-roster situations NBA personnel are monitoring before Oct. 19," Fischer wrote. "Have heard the [Milwaukee] Bucks, Lakers and [Memphis] Grizzlies all exploring trades."
Chances are, if the Lakers do end up consummating a trade over the next several days in order to trim their roster, it will not be a major one. Perhaps they could pull off a deal that would bring in another backup center who can contribute in limited playing time defensively and on the boards, but fans should not expect the team to be able to bring in a true difference-maker.
If Los Angeles ends up acquiring a difference-making or needle-moving player, it will probably have to occur during the winter ahead of the NBA's Feb. 11, 2027 trade deadline.
This article originally appeared on Lakers Wire: NBA insider: Lakers are still exploring trades before start of season