The Los Angeles Lakers showed more than a few holes in their roster last season as the Minnesota Timberwolves easily knocked them out of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The loss exposed a gaping hole in the middle of the Lakers' interior defense while also demonstrating the team's need for more athletic perimeter defenders to slow opponents, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards. Mutiple sources indicated to reporter Grant Afseth that the Lakers have been listed as a "trade destination to monitor" for the Portland Trail Blazers guard this offseason.