Lakers’ LeBron James Calls Roster Questions Before Deadline “Disrespectful”
lebron-james-dismisses-roster-talk-before-trade-deadline
LOS ANGELES — After the Los Angeles Lakers’ eight-point loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, LeBron James declined to discuss potential roster moves, saying it would be “disrespectful” to teammates to speculate with the trade deadline approaching.
The Jan. 20 matchup at Ball Arena saw the Lakers dig out of a rough first half before falling short. Luka Doncic delivered a standout performance, and James added a strong outing of his own, yet inconsistent production from the bench once again hurt Los Angeles. The Lakers enter the week with one of the league’s lowest-scoring reserve units and ongoing issues defending the perimeter.
Asked postgame if the current roster is equipped to challenge the NBA’s top clubs, the 21-year veteran declined to wade into trade talk.
“We’re missing our All-Star two-guard,” James said on Spectrum SportsNet. “We haven’t been whole pretty much all year. We’re starting to get a little rhythm, but we haven’t had a full roster all year. It’s disrespectful to these guys if I start talking about the deadline and what we need to do. I try not to play fantasy basketball too much.”
James noted that the injured guard could return during the team’s current road trip, though no timeline has been confirmed. Austin Reaves has missed extended time with a left hamstring strain.
Trade Deadline Tension
The Lakers’ 15th roster spot and a collection of expiring contracts have fueled speculation that the front office will seek help before the NBA’s trade moratorium ends. Veteran guard Marcus Smart, no stranger to deadline rumors, recently spoke about the anxiety players feel during this stretch of the season, a sentiment that likely informed James’ refusal to engage in roster chatter.
Los Angeles continues a five-game swing on Wednesday. Until reinforcements arrive—or do not—the focus, James said, remains on the players currently in uniform.
Source: Lakers Nation
