Lakers Rumors: 'Little Sign of Aggression' Being Shown in Trade ...

Despite some pressure from LeBron James and Anthony Davis to make moves that will improve the roster prior to the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers don't seem to be operating with any sense of urgency right now.

"The Lakers have shown a reticence to put their future first-round picks into trades in recent seasons, and there's no indication that position has shifted," Bontemps and Windhorst wrote.

One reason the trade chatter is generally quiet around the Lakers right now is that they already got rid of D'Angelo Russell's $18.7 million expiring salary when they struck a deal with the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith.

Bontemps noted that trade makes it "more difficult" for the Lakers to pull off another big move because they don't have a lot left to deal. They've been quick to dismiss any trade chatter around Austin Reaves.

The only remaining expiring contracts on the books in Los Angeles belong to Jalen Hood-Schifino ($3.9 million), Christian Wood ($3 million), Jaxson Hayes ($2.5 million) and Cam Reddish ($2.5 million).

Davis told ESPN's Shams Charania this week he would like to see the Lakers add another big man that would allow him to move back to the four. That type of deal wouldn't necessarily qualify as aggressive since there don't seem to be a lot of impact centers available in trades right now.

Charania reported on Wednesday that James and Davis have "expressed" their desire for the team to make significant moves prior to the trade deadline, but they had grown "concerned" they will actually take that approach.

Even though the pressure is always high for the Lakers to do something big, there has to be someone available that an opposing team wants to move in order to do it. This really isn't the type of trade deadline where it seems like that's going to happen.

The Lakers seem unlikely to outbid other teams for Cam Johnson if the Nets decide to move him, especially since Brooklyn is reportedly looking for two first-round picks or equivalent value for the 28-year-old wing.

At this point, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Lakers roster on Feb. 6 is the same as it is now. They might make a marginal move or two, but there just aren't that many difference-making players available that would warrant an all-in-type move.

For all of the concerns about the Lakers at different points this season, they have moved up to fifth in the Western Conference with a 24-18 record.