The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a 3-2 start in the 2025-26 NBA season. That record looks fine on paper, but the reality feels less reassuring. Injuries are already testing the team’s depth and chemistry.
LeBron James remains sidelined with sciatica until at least mid-November, while Gabe Vincent is nursing an ankle injury that could keep him out for several weeks. Adou Thiero’s knee issue and Maxi Kleber’s oblique strain have added more uncertainty to a roster already short on consistency.
Even with Austin Reaves stepping up, the team’s weaknesses are showing. When Luka Doncic missed three games, the offense fell apart. The perimeter defense suffered without Marcus Smart and LeBron on the floor. The Lakers are holding on, but the margin for error feels razor thin.
The front office is reportedly reluctant to sacrifice major assets like Rui Hachimura or future first-round picks, so the focus has turned toward affordable moves that can strengthen the bench and stabilize the rotation. Here are three underrated trade targets that could make a real difference.
Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love (Utah Jazz)
The Utah Jazz are in full rebuild mode, which makes veterans Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love expendable. Anderson would bring defensive versatility and secondary playmaking, something the Lakers currently lack in their second unit. Love, though no longer the player he once was, still offers veteran leadership and strong locker-room presence.
His history with LeBron James could help maintain accountability within the team. A trade involving Maxi Kleber’s expiring $11 million contract and young guard Dalton Knecht might be enough to get Utah interested, according to ESPN.
Ochai Agbaji (Toronto Raptors)
Ochai Agbaji’s role has diminished in Toronto behind RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Gradey Dick. He is only 24 and in the final year of an affordable contract, making him a low-risk, high-reward option for Los Angeles.
The Lakers could offer Kleber and a future second-round pick while taking on AJ Lawson’s small deal to balance salaries. Agbaji’s three-point shooting could improve significantly with more open looks created by Doncic and Reaves.
Klay Thompson (Dallas Mavericks)
Klay Thompson’s second season in Dallas has not gone as planned. He is averaging under nine points on low efficiency, and his fit next to the Mavericks‘ young core looks uncertain. The Lakers, who reportedly had interest last summer, could revisit the idea of bringing Thompson home to California. A deal centered on Gabe Vincent’s expiring contract and Dalton Knecht might appeal to Dallas if the Mavericks decide to reset financially and focus on depth.
The Lakers are not searching for another headline star. They need role players who can contribute immediately while LeBron and others recover. Kyle Anderson’s defense, Agbaji’s shooting potential, and Klay Thompson’s experience could be the difference between surviving the early-season injuries and losing control of a promising year.
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