LeBron James (Image Credit: Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers made some notable picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, selecting Dalton Knecht and LeBron James’ son, Bronny James. However, after these draft moves, the team has remained largely inactive during the off-season, which has raised concerns among analysts

Despite LeBron James personally reaching out to Klay Thompson. Thompson ultimately signed with the Dallas Mavericks, though the Lakers wanted to overpay him.

Since their last NBA championship win in 2020, the Lakers have struggled to find consistent success. Jovan Buha of The Athletic recently expressed his doubts about the Lakers’ prospects for the upcoming season, especially if they don’t make any trades soon.

“If the Lakers don’t make a trade, it’s a wasted season,” Buha said during a recent episode of “Buha’s Block.”

Last season, the Lakers finished with a 47-35 record but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Following that disappointing finish, the team parted ways with coach Darvin Ham. After much speculation, they hired former NBA player JJ Redick as their new head coach, but doubts remain about whether this will be enough to turn their fortunes around.

Jovan Buha Reveals LeBron James’ Interest in Jonas Valanciunas

The Los Angeles Lakers have faced some setbacks this offseason, losing key players like Taurean Prince and Spencer Dinwiddie. These departures have raised concerns about the team’s ability to remain competitive in the upcoming season.

Amid these worries, Jovan Buha weighed in on what the Lakers might do next. He mentioned that the team could revisit their interest in acquiring center Jonas Valanciunas, though it’s not their top priority.

“There was some interest, obviously. He was on LeBron’s list, so I think the Lakers will probably revisit that. But I don’t think there’s as much interest as a guy like Wendell Carter or some of these other guys that have popped up. So, I view it more as a mid-to-low-tier trade target for them,” Buha said.

With the Lakers aiming for their 18th NBA Championship, the pressure is on to make strategic moves before the training camp for the 2024-25 NBA season begins in about a month. If the Lakers hope to be serious contenders again, they’ll need to act quickly.