Lakers fans have been pleading with Rob Pelinka to make a big trade before the deadline—and for good reason. While adding Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton was a solid move, it’s far from enough to turn the Lakers into true contenders in the highly competitive Western Conference.
With Anthony Davis struggling with injuries and the team lacking consistency, the pressure is on for Pelinka to acquire a true difference-maker—not just another rotational player.
On Tuesday, a new name emerged in trade discussions: De’Aaron Fox.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Sacramento Kings are “open” to trading their All-Star guard before the deadline. Unsurprisingly, the Lakers were immediately linked to Fox due to his connections with Klutch Sports and Rich Paul.
But before Lakers fans start envisioning a blockbuster trade, the reality is far more complicated.
Fox to the Lakers? Don’t Count on It.
While Fox appears to be a perfect fit on paper, several major obstacles make a deal unlikely.
First, Charania reported that Los Angeles isn’t even Fox’s preferred destination—which isn’t a shocker. The Lakers lack the assets to outbid teams with better draft picks, young talent, and long-term stability beyond LeBron James.
Even if Fox were open to a move to L.A., the San Antonio Spurs are in a much stronger position to land him. With a stockpile of draft picks and promising young players, the Spurs could potentially offer rookie Stephon Castle, a move that would overshadow any package the Lakers could assemble.
While it’s uncertain if San Antonio would actually part with Castle, their ability to outbid Los Angeles isn’t even debatable.
Forget Fox—The Lakers Need a Center
The bigger issue? The Lakers don’t need another guard. They need size.
With Davis once again sidelined, the need for a true big man has never been more urgent. Davis has been vocal about his preference to play power forward rather than center, yet the front office has yet to secure a legitimate starting big man.
There’s no shortage of available frontcourt targets—Jonas Valančiūnas, Nikola Vučević, and Jakob Poeltl have all been rumored as potential trade candidates. However, NBA insider Marc Stein reports that the Lakers aren’t seriously pursuing Vučević or Poeltl, and there’s no real momentum on a Valančiūnas deal either.
Time Is Running Out
With less than a week until the trade deadline, the Lakers can’t afford to waste time chasing a long-shot dream. Fox to L.A. sounds great in theory, but unless something drastic changes, he’s far more likely to end up in San Antonio, forming a terrifying duo with Victor Wembanyama—a nightmare scenario for Lakers fans.
The real question isn’t whether the Lakers can pull off a splashy blockbuster. It’s whether Pelinka will finally address the team’s biggest weakness before the deadline passes. Because if he doesn’t? This season could slip away fast.
