Brian Windhorst is quieting the Lakers’ title talk until trade help arrives

With The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a busy schedule ahead of the All-Star break, there is also speculation about what the team can do to improve with the trade deadline coming up on February 5th. Convincing victory of the Lakers over the Chicago Bulls on Monday, 129-118, NBA analyst Brian Windhorst gave his real thoughts on the team’s championship chances this season.

Speaking on ESPN’s “First Take,” Windhorst was asked how close Los Angeles is to being a title threat as the team has won four of its last five games. Windhorst would pour water on the fire, saying that seeing how the team was “constructed”, it would be “split defensively” when he is in the playoffs.

“When you talk about a title contender, what you’re talking about is the need to win three playoff series,” Windhorst said. “Two, three playoff series, and I just think the way the Lakers are constructed right now, when they get into a playoff series, they’re going to be separated defensively. They’re going to isolate Luka (Doncic), they’re going to isolate LeBron (James), they’re going to isolate (Austin) Reaves. They got help last night. And that’s one of the reasons they’ve won four of five in their last 19 games, but they’ve been an average team here because of their defensive shortcomings.

Brian Windhorst on what the Lakers need

As rumors will surround the Lakers before the trade deadline, the team appears to have a lot of fighting to do, as Windhorst suggests, especially to shore up its defense. Windhorst would mention that he got a lob threat in the center, which could work with Luka Doncic and LeBron Jamesbut it can also help defensively.

“Is there a trade they could make by next week that could help them? Sure,” Windhorst said. “Is there a center there that can be a pick-and-roll threat that we saw in Dallas with Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford. That can be your back line of defense, too? Yeah, their contracts are expiring, they can work in the draft, but they’re not there today.”

Either way, Los Angeles is 28-17, fifth in the Western Conference, as the team’s next game is against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.