It doesn’t sound like Lakers want to trade Gabe Vincent or Maxi Kleber

The roster the Los Angeles Lakers have right now is, in all likelihood, the one they will start the 2025-26 NBA season with. It is an imperfect one, but it is one they should be able to win plenty of games and score lots of points with.

Jaxson Hayes is back to being a backup center after the acquisition of Deandre Ayton, and that alone is a major upgrade. Guard Marcus Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, should add toughness and character, and, of course, Luka Doncic is as lean and fit as he’s ever been, which could lead to an MVP-caliber season for him.

Lakers fans have been hoping for one or two more trades that would land a 3-and-D player or a better backup center. Other than their 2031 or 2032 first-round draft pick, the Lakers’ main trade chips are the expiring contracts of guard Gabe Vincent, big man Maxi Kleber and forward Rui Hachimura.

It is unlikely they’d be willing to trade Hachimura, and according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the team wants to give Vincent and Kleber a chance to contribute this season.

“The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to take their current roster into training camp and give this group a chance to prove themselves before charting possible trades and changes,” Siegel wrote. “Specifically, the Lakers are interested in seeing what value Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber can provide.”

Vincent can provide some solid point-of-attack defense and does a good job of fighting through screens, but his 3-point shooting is erratic, and he otherwise lacks any real offensive skills. Kleber has been a solid 3-point shooter and defender in the past, but he shot just 38.5% from the field and 26.5% from downtown last season before a foot injury ended his year in January.

It is believed the Lakers want to maintain as much salary cap space as possible for the next two summers when Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić could become available. However, Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation reported this week that the team will be aggressive in looking to make a move leading up to this winter’s trade deadline.