The LA Lakers make zero moves at the trade deadline

The Los Angeles Lakers failed to make a single trade before Thursday's mid-season trade deadline, signaling their content with the current roster.

The Lakers actively pursued Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray but refused to agree to a trade that would see Austin Reaves go the other way, as reported by the LA Times.

There were rumors of LeBron James moving on from the West Coast, but nothing materialized, with the New York Knicks looking the most likely to have picked him up.

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Unlike last year, the Lakers haven't rebuilt their roster at the deadline, something that seemed a likelihood after the team's poor run since winning the NBA Cup.

Let's look at how The Lakers turned around a miserable start to the campaign after last year's trade deadline.

The Lakers had a dismal start to the year, entering November with two and 12 losses, giving them a 0.3% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN.

LeBron James and co failed to bolster their roster in the summer of 2022. Former MVP Russell Westbrook wasn't gelling with the team, and guard Patrick Beverley failed to make an impact.

It was clear that the move for Russell Westbrook hadn't worked, with fans getting on his back, players losing faith, and coach Darwin Ham, starting to bring him off the bench.

Despite the perceived issues in the camp and poor run of form, Anthony Davis was unstoppable between the end of November and December, averaging 32/15/3 over an eight-game stretch before injuring his foot, as reported by Stat Muse.

A key contributor to the change in form was Austin Reaves, who made a jump from a solid rookie on a bad team to the third option scorer on a potential championship-winning side.

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The trade deadline in February 2023 is what changed the success of the franchise, dishing off Patrick Beverley, Russell Westbrook, and Kendrick Nunn to create a deep and winning roster.

In exchange for the mentioned, The Lakers secured guards D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, forwards Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt, and center Mo Bamba, as reported by the LA Times.

The addition of elite shooters and defensive anchors after the trade deadline propelled the Lakers to the second-best record in the West since the trade market closed, winning 18 and losing nine, according to the NBA website.

According to the NBA website, Anthony Davis said: "It's been a real good group. There's a lot at stake, and on the line, we have no choice but to improve. Our practice has been games, and we've been able to figure out things on the fly."

Since stepping up in performances, The Lakers finished the season seventh in the Western Conference, with a record of 43 wins and 39 losses, setting up a play-in game with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Lakers dismantled The Timberwolves with a late fightback in the final quarter, securing their place in the playoffs with a 108-102 victory.

The Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies and defeated Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors before being swept in the Western Conference Finals by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets, as covered by ESPN.

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