Lakers Right to Avoid Star Trade for Jimmy Butler, Ingram, Lavine Amid NBA Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be buyers at the trade deadline on February 6, but probably not for the superstar-tier talent one might expect.

The Athletic's Jovan Buha reported that the team hopes to maximize the final years of the LeBron James-Anthony Davis partnership, but "are not anticipated to be heavily in the mix for Miami's Jimmy Butler, New Orleans' Brandon Ingram or Chicago's Zach LaVine."

Nor should they be.

Any of the three are playing high-level basketball but carry an asking price far too high for the Lakers to take on.

Any deal for either of those three players would adversely affect the organization's attempt to keep the salary cap below the second apron. It would also affect the on-court chemistry, with greater emphasis on getting those stars the ball and ensuring they contribute meaningfully.

The amount of time it would take to integrate a star player into head coach JJ Redick's offense and the style of play that James and Davis prefer would cost the Lakers valuable games in a loaded Western Conference.

Instead, the team is likely to focus on quality role players who can come in, fill a position of need, provide much-desired depth, and follow the lead of its top two players.

Buha reported that those players could be Dorian Finney-Smith, Jonas Valančiūnas, Max Kessler, Robert Williams III, and Bruce Brown Jr.

Valančiūnas and Williams are intriguing in that the Lakers need depth at the center position amid injuries to Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood. They also need someone who can occasionally step in and start a game if Davis needs to float out to forward and play a bit in that position.

Kessler is almost too expensive, with Utah CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge likely wanting a small mint in exchange for his young backup center.

If the Lakers can package something together for either Valančiūnas or Williams III, and include D'Angelo Russell in it, the team has the potential to go on a lengthy and red-hot run that sees them re-establish themselves as a favorite in the Western Conference.

Otherwise, the organization will continue to roll the dice, hoping it can get through with no substantial injuries to its stars that would adversely affect its ability to keep pace with the rest of the conference.

That is where the team finds itself right now, without making a deal to acquire those essential depth pieces who can contribute off the bench and support the two superstars around whom the franchise has been built.