Lakers officials are giving up hope of a Finals run this season.

The Los Angeles Lakers were mysteriously quiet at the NBA trade deadline this year and now we’re beginning to understand why.  According to Lakers Daily’s Anthony Irwin, some team officials feel it’s best not to waste assets or energy on a season that is already doomed to fail.

“Some within the organization have even explained that the Lakers’ inactivity at the deadline was due in part to thinking this season was beyond salvation after his injury — which they considered season-ending at the time,” Irwin wrote.

The Lakers were under pressure from the fans and LeBron James himself to make a move and get as much help as possible this season. But with only so many assets remaining, the Lakes decided to run it back instead and keep their chips close at hand for another day.

This season, with a 37-32 record, the Lakers are 9th in the West, right around where they’ve been all year long. Currently, Los Angeles is still 3.5 games back from avoiding the play-in and would have to win two elimination games just to qualify for the first round of the playoffs.

Now, with Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, and Jarred Vanderbilt ruled out for the season, the Lakers are down a big chunk of their supporting cast and lack enough depth to keep up with the Western powerhouses.

In short, this season may actually be a wrap for the Lake Show and it’s a true sham given how well LeBron James has played. But now, with all eyes on the summer, we can expect the Lakers to really pick up the intensity and look to make a big splash before the start of next season.

The Lakers Have Big Plans This Summer

With this season likely to end as another failure, there is nothing else to do but prepare for what’s to come, and the Lakers have enough flexibility to adjust the roster however they see fit.

Assuming LeBron James and Anthony Davis return as teammates next season, the goal for Rob Pelinka will be to build a roster around them that can compete both now and in the short-term future as Anthony Davis closes in on the final stages of his career.

Of course, it’s no secret that the Lakers are also considering a run at a third star this summer and forming a new big three in Los Angeles. Like it or not, that strategy may be required now with teams like the Clippers and Celtics having more than two All-Star caliber players.

For the Lakers to keep up with these NBA elites, they’ll need to be deeper and more talented than ever and it starts with making the right moves in the offseason.

Recently, the Lakers have been connected to several names and Trae Young is probably the most intriguing so far with the potential to elevate the Lakers’ ceiling to a whole new level. His arrival would be like a miracle to the franchise but it remains to be seen if they can pull it off amid a sea of bidders.

So while this season may be counted as a defeat for the Lakers, they haven’t given up yet on making one last run in the LeBron James era and they could be just one piece away from finding a truly potent formula.