The Los Angeles Lakers have made decent moves to improve their roster for the 2025-26 NBA season. The team re-signed All-Star guard Luka Doncic in a new three-year contract extension. Also, the team brought back Jaxson Hayes on a one-year deal. Aside from that, the Lakers added a few players once free agency started over the summer.
The Lakers added Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart. They believe in building a future with their All-Star guard, Doncic, who will likely take over once LeBron James retires. In the midst of this, there have been some whispers that some of the players on the team may be traded.
The two names mentioned are Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt. Vincent had a decent 2024-25 campaign, appearing in 72 games, averaging 6.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, struggled to be healthy and suited up for 36 games, averaging 4.1 points on 48.8% shooting from the field.
NBA insider Sean Deveney reported that while the Los Angeles Lakers had chances to trade both players, they opted not to move them.
“Still, the feeling around the Lakers is that the team is pretty much set as it is, and that no major trades are forthcoming until the season gets rolling. The Lakers have had opportunities to include the likes of Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt in trade packages already, but have declined to do so,” Deveney wrote.
The Lakers have had opportunities to include the likes of Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt in trade packages already, but have declined to do so, per @SeanDeveney
“Still, the feeling around the Lakers is that the team is pretty much set as it is, and that no major trades are… pic.twitter.com/20mMMZc2v3
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 11, 2025
A Western Conference executive also said that the Lakers are waiting to see how the roster will play out.
“‘They have not been attacking the trade market by any stretch of the imagination,” one Western Conference executive said. “Most teams now are in a sort-of wait-and-see mode, and I would include the Lakers in that. They want to give it some time before they make a trade.”
Los Angeles Lakers star urged to force a trade to the Cavaliers
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is looking to end his career on a high note by winning an NBA championship. However, it could be difficult for him to do that with the Lakers. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith suggested that James should force a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, as it gives him a better shot at contending for a title.
“But getting specifically to LeBron James — it has got to the point, where I think it warrants it bro: why don’t you just come back to Cleveland and end your career,” the insider said.
“This cannot be disputed: he’d have a better chance to win in Cleveland than he would in L.A. The road through the Western Conference is arduous to say the least.”
"He'd have a better chance to winning the championship in Cleveland than he would in L.A."@stephenasmith feels LeBron should end his career in Cleveland 👀 pic.twitter.com/bUmtsDNJmI
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 8, 2025
The Cavaliers have a deeper roster and were the best team in the East last season. But the decision is on James if he wants to return to the team that drafted him.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
