The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling with a 13-11 record, sitting in the eighth seed of the Western Conference. While they are only 5.5 games behind the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, their position is precarious, especially with aging stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. A long-term injury to either could jeopardize their playoff chances.

Defensively, the Lakers rank 27th overall, prompting discussions about potential trades. A proposed deal would send D'Angelo Russell and others to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder, aiming to bolster their defense and shooting capabilities.