The entire NBA trade market is in a holding pattern, and no silence is louder than the Lakers’. While contenders across the league posture for upgrades, Los Angeles appears to be waiting on one seismic development: the potential fall of the Giannis Antetokounmpo domino. Once that situation gains clarity, the rest of the market could erupt overnight.

For the Purple and Gold, patience could prove strategic. The Lakers are armed with a collection of expiring contracts and movable salary, exactly the kind of assets rival teams may covet if the Antetokounmpo saga drags into the offseason. Franchises looking to clear cap space for a run at the two-time MVP would need financial flexibility, and Los Angeles is positioned to take advantage by prying away the high-level role players it desperately needs.

“As teams maneuver for financial flexibility, the Lakers’ expiring deals and future first-round pick could get them in conversations for high-end role players like Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo or Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen, though those scenarios are dependent on the Lakers’ expiring money landing with a third team (and the Lakers having limited sweeteners to incentivize teams to aid in a deal),” The Athletic’s Dan Woike mentioned.

In other words, inactivity now doesn’t necessarily mean indecision. It may simply mean the Lakers understand that the real trade deadline begins the moment the Giannis situation breaks.

The Lakers’ defense has struggled all season. Jarrett Allen, an elite rim protector, is coming off an enormous 40-point performance, creating intrigue about how he would look alongside Luka Doncic, a very willing passer. Furthermore, Donte DiVincenzo addresses their poor shooting rate.

The Lakers currently rank 22nd in three-point percentage. DiVincenzo could provide an instant boost, nailing close to 39% of his attempts on high volume.

But there are some roadblocks that hamper any movement. The Lakers, like many other teams, are focused on the summer. Any move now would be a temporary improvement, limiting their ability to make a major move over the summer. That’s the reason Woike believes any “meaningful” change will come in the offseason.

This cautious approach isn’t unique to the Lakers. A similar dynamic played out at the 2023 trade deadline when Kevin Durant’s trade request from Brooklyn created league-wide uncertainty. Teams held back on secondary deals to preserve assets and cap space, waiting to see if they could enter the Durant sweepstakes or adjust post-trade.

The Nets eventually moved him to Phoenix, but the prior hesitation underscores how superstar-availability rumors often lead the market to freeze or slow until clarity emerges, much as the current wait for resolution on Giannis.

The Dallas Mavericks shut the door on the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are still having “active” discussions with teams. However, the Lakers’ prime targets are off the table. The Pelicans’ wing duo of Trey Murphy and Herb Jones is commanding too high a price.

Marshall, a 28-year-old small forward, has emerged as a valuable 3-and-D wing in his second full season with Dallas after signing a 3-year, $27 million deal in July 2024 (via the non-taxpayer mid-level exception). This mid-level salary makes him relatively easy to match in trades without a massive outgoing salary, and his production fits perfectly alongside Doncic in LA.

The Lakers, sitting at 30-19 and building around Doncic (with LeBron James and Austin Reaves), have been linked to virtually every available defensive wing, including Marshall, as they seek upgrades before the deadline. Reuniting Doncic with former Dallas teammates like Marshall or Gafford would have been a narrative goldmine and on-court fit.

However, Dallas values Marshall highly. He’s seen as a core piece for their Cooper Flagg era alongside Kyrie Irving and others like Klay Thompson. Reports indicate the Mavericks are asking for a high price (at least a first-round pick) and are reluctant to move him anyway.

And now, the Mavericks aren’t interested in dealing with the Lakers again. That door could be shut.

“Naji Marshall has also generated interest around the Lakers, though the pathways to any deal with the Dallas Mavericks after the Luka Dončić trade last season have gigantic “road closed” signs all over them. The same is probably true for Daniel Gafford,” Woike wrote.

With all of that, Pelinka stands in a difficult situation. Parting ways with the available first-round pick right now means it won’t be available in the summer. That’s when the Lakers could have cap space with LeBron James’ contract expiring.

Furthermore, keeping some of those expiring deals creates enough space to even be involved in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. If not that, then the Lakers can draw an enticing free agent while holding their draft capital for an in-season move.

It depends entirely on how the Lakers envision their summer. If they feel making a move for a distinguished role player gives them enough stability, they should do it.

But if there are any doubts, waiting for the offseason opens up many more doors to improve the roster holistically.