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The Los Angeles Lakers are not having the best season and fans want nothing more than for the franchise to build a stronger roster. With Anthony Davis out due to injury, NBA superstar LeBron James is effectively carrying the entire team at the moment. Fans have seemingly accepted that the team has a higher chance of not making the playoffs and it seems like they are mostly blaming Lakers owner Jeanie Buss for it.

It is no secret that the Lakers will need to strengthen their roster to help LeBron James and have a fighting chance to be able to play in the Finals this season. However, in order to do that, the franchise will have to give up their future first-round picks and that’s where things get tricky.

Lakers owner refuses to help LeBron James

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While Los Angeles Lakers fans were anticipating a blockbuster trade to build a stronger roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, new reports suggest that it is highly unlikely. With the trade deadline less than a month away, the Lakers will need to acquire players who will complement their best players well. However, in order to do so, the Lakers will have to give up either one or both of their 2027 and 2029 draft picks and it seems like owner Jeanie Buss is reportedly not on board with that idea. According to Sean Deveney of Heavy on Sports, a Western Conference executive has shared that Buss is unwilling to trade their future first-round picks as she is more focused on the future.

“They have come this far without trading the two picks (in 2027 and 2029) away, and it is going to be very hard to move Westbrook without putting one of those picks into the deal. You’ve got a lot of the organization saying, ‘We should trade picks and win now,’ but some in the organization are saying, ‘Do not sell out the future.’ And Jeanie Buss is with the second group, and that is what matters most,” the anonymous source told Deveney.

READ MORE – “Just Trade Your Assets and Rebuild”: Latest Update on 2X NBA All-Star’s Future Potentially Hurting LeBron James and the Lakers Leaves Fans in Disbelief

This means that any chance the Lakers had of making it to the playoffs has perhaps been obliterated by Buss. NBA Twitter is seemingly not happy with Buss’ apparent decision, which resulted in her receiving a lot of severe criticism online.

Here are some of the reactions from NBA Twitter:

Where are the Lakers standing now?

Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers are among the bottom five teams in the Western Conference rankings. Currently placed 13th, the Lakers have a 20-24 record so far this season. The Lakers recently went through a three-game losing streak before LeBron James put an end to it in the recent game against the Houston Rockets.

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The 18x All-Star led his team to victory by 149-132, scoring an impressive 40 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. The 4X NBA champion is averaging 29.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game so far.

WATCH THIS STORY: Shaquille O’Neal could buy LeBron James’ former team using $600 million net worth

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On the other hand, Anthony Davis is currently taking time off from the court due to a foot injury. However, according to Shams Charania from The Athletic, the 8x NBA All-Star will most probably rejoin his teammates by the first week of February.

What do you make of the recent reports on Jeanie Buss? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.