Lakers likely to stick with current core beyond this season?

While there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster, the core group does not appear likely to change this season. That appears to be true beyond that as well.

In an appearance on Tuesday’s “Brian Windhorst & the Hoop Collective” podcast, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that the Lakers are increasingly resigned to the fact that the core of star players is not likely to change, even in the offseason.

“That’s some of the phrasing I’ve heard. ‘Let’s not make a change to make a change. Let’s make a change when we know it’s going to make us a lot better,'” Shelburne said, via Jacob Rude of Silver Screen & Roll. “And I’ve even heard the phrasing ‘This is probably going to be the roster next year, too.’

LeBron James and Anthony Davis are very much locked in for the Lakers, which is no surprise. The frustration will center on Russell Westbrook. The same factors that make Westbrook difficult to move now will still be true next season. He is due more than $47 million next season, and as long as he is playing poorly, the Lakers have no shot of getting anything of value for him. Their best shot at moving him would be to attach a draft pick to sweeten the pot, but thus far, the team has been unwilling to do that.

The Lakers seem to be thinking hard about financial concerns as they stood pat at the deadline. Based on their current strategy, it’s tough to see next season playing out much better than the current one is.