“He plays the right way, defensively he’s a monster, rebounding, we can only imagine when he really gets comfortable with us,” said Anthony Davis about the Lakers’ new signing Dorian Finney-Smith. But little did AD know, this ‘monster’ would be the one stopping him from getting his wishes granted! Rob Pelinka had set the expectation that it would take about 30 games to truly assess his LA team’s needs.

At the time, many assumed the Lakers would target a big man, with Jonas Valanciunas of the Washington Wizards being a popular name in the rumor mill. But when that 30-game mark came and went, the Lakers shifted gears. Instead of a center, they went after  Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets, who’s set to bag almost $15 million this season.

The Lakers didn’t bring in a big man this offseason, even though many thought they’d go that route. Instead, they’ve gone 2-1 since trading for DFS, with the only loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’re on fire this season. It’s interesting because, despite all the talk, Anthony Davis doesn’t want to play the 5 full-time. He prefers to share the floor with a traditional C, someone who can absorb more of the physicality. Given how well they’re doing without a new center, it might just convince LA that they don’t actually need one.

They’d rather spend on athleticism and speed. According to Dan Woike of The L.A. Times, while the team still needs a better backup center than Jaxson Hayes or Christian Koloko, “It’s become clear that the Lakers’ needs to get bigger aren’t as important to them as their desires to get faster, more athletic, and more dynamic.” Furthermore, the Lakers gave up 3 of their 5 second-round picks, plus D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis, to get Finney-Smith. So, now, as their trade assets are pretty slim, who are they looking for?

While Anthony Davis’ wish gets ignored, Bradley Beal’s could get fulfilled!

So, here’s the situation: Bradley Beal, one of the two players in the NBA with a no-trade clause (LeBron’s the other), might actually be heading to a new team. After being benched by the Suns, he’s reportedly pretty unhappy with his role, and John Gambadoro from Arizona Sports 98.7 FM thinks Beal could be open to waiving his no-trade clause for teams like LA, Miami, or Denver.

But, honestly, a Lakers-Suns trade seems like a long shot. Although, never say never.

Why? Well, both teams are well above the first salary apron, so making this deal work isn’t easy. Beal’s huge contract—$50.2 million this year and $53.6 million next season, plus a $57.1 million player option in 2026-27—means the Lakers would have to match that salary perfectly. And that’s not happening. So, if this deal goes down, it’ll probably involve a third team.

Even though Bradley Beal’s still shooting a solid 39.2% from three, he’s not performing like a $53.6 million player. His numbers—17.8 points, 48% shooting, and a career-low 22.9% usage rate—tell the story. After losing D’Lo, the Lakers are looking for a guard, so any trade with the Suns might also need the Heat in the mix. Think future picks, young guys, and salary fillers headed to Miami.

Since both teams are over the cap, it’s a salary-matching nightmare. Heck, a fourth team might even have to come in to make this work. It’s complicated, but you can see why people are watching closely.