Lakers' patient approach could backfire

The Los Angeles Lakers have been quiet during the opening weeks of free agency.

The LeBron James-led team struggled throughout last season and suffered a first-round exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. GM Rob Pelinka has stood pat as the free agent market has dried up.

The Athletic's Jovan Buha reported that Los Angeles is remaining patient, and its best path forward is a consolidation trade.

"The Lakers expect to make a consolidation trade at some point, though that could come closer to the start of the season, according to league sources," Buha reported. "...Waiting out the trade market could lower asking prices and reverse the league-wide reluctance to take on the contracts of Russell, Hachimura, Vanderbilt and/or Vincent."

JJ Redick's roster has multiple players who struggled to make an impact last season. Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood were both unimpressive and, therefore, opted into their player option for the upcoming season. The Lakers have five or six players who need to rebuild their value but could struggle to earn minutes under Redick.

As such, the back end of Los Angeles' roster is limited. Redick must find a way to get the best out of the talent at his disposal. If they can find roles for Cam Reddish and Wood and put them in a position to succeed, the Lakers' chances of success will drastically increase.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of multiple struggling stars suddenly figuring it out is low. The longer the Lakers wait to make a move, the deeper hole they will have dug for themselves. Pelinka is right not to rush into a deal, but he should certainly be feeling a sense of urgency at the same time. It's a tricky juxtaposition.

The Lakers' current contention window is getting slimmer. James is entering his age-40 season. Anthony Davis is firmly in his prime. If the Purple and Gold can't figure things out within the next two years, they will forced to enter a rebuild with few tradable assets or future draft picks.

Only a championship would make that reality easy to stomach.