The Los Angeles Lakers don’t always wait until the offseason to make noise. Some of their most defining moves have come at the trade deadline, when a well-timed shift in the roster has changed a season or rescued championship hopes. Here are five midseason trades that had a tangible impact on the Lakers: three from recent years, and two classics that still echo through franchise history.
Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis (February 2025)
This one stunned the league. Just past the trade deadline, the Lakers landed Luka Dončić, sending Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and future draft picks to Dallas in a three-team deal facilitated by Utah. It was the first midseason trade ever to swap two reigning All-NBA players.
Dončić immediately showed results at the Lakers, bringing them up to the No. 3 seed out West and producing playoff highlight performances, including back-to-back 60-point games. The move restored the Lakers to title contention and gave them a superstar pairing with LeBron. For Dallas? They faltered, while fans criticized GM Nico Harrison for trading their franchise cornerstone.
Dončić’s long-term future in Los Angeles is still in the air, with only rumors about a potential contract extension for the 2026-2027 season. But next year, he’s set to be a significant force and the Lakers will remain one of the hottest basketball betting options on sportbet.one and other platforms.
Pau Gasol (February 2008)
It’s one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, at least in the short term.
In February 2008, the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol, and two first-round picks. At the time, it looked like highway robbery. Pau clicked instantly with Kobe Bryant and gave the Lakers the elite big man they needed. Los Angeles won three straight NBA Finals, winning two (2009 and 2010). His imaginative play, interior scoring, and underrated defense made him the perfect sidekick for Kobe.
Marc Gasol eventually turned into an All-Star for Memphis, but for the Lakers, this deal reestablished them in the league.
Rui Hachimura (January 2023)
With LeBron James and Anthony Davis shouldering the load, the Lakers needed depth and consistency at the forward spot. That’s where Rui Hachimura came in. The Lakers acquired him from the Washington Wizards in January 2023 in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.
Hachimura immediately fit in as a low-ego scorer and strong defender. He averaged 12.2 points during the regular season but made his biggest impact in the playoffs, putting up 29 points off the bench in Game 1 against Memphis and playing throughout the team’s run to the Western Conference Finals.
The trade didn’t turn the Lakers into instant title favorites but gave them a young, reliable role player.
D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley (February 2023)
If Hachimura were a piece, this was the complete puzzle reshuffle. At the 2023 deadline, the Lakers pulled off a massive three-team trade that sent Russell Westbrook to Utah and brought back D’Angelo Russell (in his second stint with L.A.), defensive forward Jarred Vanderbilt, and sharpshooter Malik Beasley.
The impact was immediate. After the trade, the team improved to 18–9, made the playoffs from the Play-In, and advanced to the Conference Finals. Vanderbilt boosted the defense. Russell stretched the floor and ran offense. Beasley had moments, though he didn’t stick around long-term.
The Lakers went from fringe playoff hopefuls to contenders almost overnight — a rare and gutsy midseason overhaul that worked.
Mychal Thompson (February 1987)
When the Lakers needed one last frontcourt piece to support Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the late ‘80s, they moved for Mychal Thompson, sending Frank Brickowski, Peter Gudmundsson, and a first-round pick to the Spurs.
Thompson wasn’t a star, but he didn’t need to be. His job was to play defense, rebound, and spell Kareem, especially in matchups against Boston or Detroit. He played a crucial role in the 1987 and 1988 title teams, giving Los Angeles the size and toughness needed to finish the Showtime era with a bang.
Last Word
The Lakers don’t always wait for summer. Some of their best moves have come midstream — when the pressure’s on and the margins for error are thin. These trades shake up rotations and change outcomes. The front office has shown it’s not afraid to go big when the moment calls. They know that with every season comes another deadline and the chance to rewrite the story all over again.
