Should the Lakers hit the panic button? Why Rob Pelinka should look to retool without LeBron James

Amid the LA Lakers' middling 14-12 start, many fans want general manager Rob Pelinka to make a win-now trade. However, the franchise may be better off finding a new home for aging superstar forward LeBron James and kickstarting a retooling phase.

After nearly a third of the season, LA is clinging to the Western Conference's final play-in spot. It sits just one game ahead of the 11th-placed San Antonio Spurs (13-13) and one and a half games above the 12th-placed Sacramento Kings (13-14).

Meanwhile, advanced metrics suggest that the Lakers have overperformed. They have been below average on both ends, ranking 16th in the NBA in offensive rating (111.7) and 24th in defensive rating (115.5). That gives them a bottom nine net rating (-3.8).

Moreover, the team lacks depth, rebounding and 3-point shooting. It is positioned 29th in bench scoring (24.5 points per game), 27th in rebounding (40.9 rebounds per game) and 25th in triples a night (11.6).

LA still has future draft capital to cobble together for an immediate upgrade. Per a Tuesday report from The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the organization is "expected to be one of the more active buyers leading into the Feb. 6 trade deadline." He added that the Lakers want to "try to maximize the final seasons of the LeBron James–Anthony Davis partnership."

However, with the gap between them and the West's top seeds widening, it may not be worth mortgaging their future for an early playoff exit.

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Lakers should try to get young talent in return for LeBron James

In his report, Jovan Buha noted that the Lakers "are not currently considering trading" LeBron James or Anthony Davis. However, if they enter the trade deadline hovering around or below .500, they should contemplate an alternate direction.

James signed a two-year, $101.4 million maximum contract over the offseason. The soon-to-be 40-year-old's deal includes a $52.6 million player option next season, a no-trade clause and a 15% trade kicker, making him difficult to move.

However, perhaps LA can find a trade destination that intrigues James, like the Golden State Warriors, who also want to scale the West standings. If they can get young talent back, like fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga, to pair with Anthony Davis, that could be enticing.

Such a move would allow LA to retool while saving its top trade assets for the next superstar that becomes available.

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