Lakers Trade Odds Put at 65% This Season
Analyst Jovan Buha says a Los Angeles Lakers trade this season is more likely than not, with the earliest realistic window in late December.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Basketball
Jovan Buha put the odds of a Los Angeles Lakers trade this season at 65% on his podcast, Buha's Block. He said doing nothing would be a giant mistake for the team, which is 6-2.
Why it matters
Injuries have thinned out the Western Conference, and the Lakers need to be in good standing with Luka Doncic to get a contract extension done. Walker Kessler is the only true big man on the Lakers roster.
Luka Doncic leads the NBA at 38.3 points per game through seven games while shooting 49.7%. The projection is an analyst estimate, and whether any trade happens remains unknown.
The players
Jovan Buha
Jovan Buha is a basketball analyst who hosts the Buha's Block podcast, where he offered the trade-odds assessment.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic is a Slovenian guard for the Los Angeles Lakers whose contract runs through 2028 or 2029, depending on his player option.
The details
Buha made the assessment on his podcast, Buha's Block. Many players who signed this summer cannot be traded until Dec. 15, and Buha's best guess for a deal is closer to the Feb. 11 deadline.
Timeline
Dec. 15: Many recently signed players become tradable.
Late December: Earliest realistic point for a Lakers trade.
Feb. 11: NBA trade deadline and Buha's best guess for a deal.
Season Trajectory
The NBA's trade calendar limits when recently signed players can move, with the December 15 restriction and February 11 deadline shaping when teams can act. Injuries across the Western Conference add pressure on the Lakers to make a move within that window.
Fantasy managers rostering Doncic should note his league-leading 38.3-point scoring average through seven games. A Lakers trade would change the rotation and usage for players around him, so the timing matters for roster decisions.
The takeaway
A trade this season is possible but timing-dependent, since the earliest realistic window opens in late December. Fans and fantasy managers should track the Dec. 15 eligibility date and the Feb. 11 deadline.
What happens next
Many summer signings become tradable on Dec. 15, and the NBA trade deadline falls on Feb. 11.
Further reading
For more on the league's roster moves, see Basketball coverage of trades and contracts across Los Angeles teams.
