The Los Angeles Lakers are close to the return of their leading trio of Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James, which could happen in a few days. James, who hasn't played this season, is officially listed as questionable for the game against the Utah Jazz.

While his return might be the most exciting thing, it's also not guaranteed to bring Los Angeles the success that it really needs. Rumors suggest that this will only prompt LA to make an aggressive trade soon.

Lakers Need More Than Star Power

NBA Trade Rumors: Will LeBron James Exit Lakers? Wolves Alexander-Walker
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Even with three elite offensive talents, the Lakers continue to lag in critical team statistics, and analysts are urging the franchise to aggressively pursue the trade market once James returns to the court. Their Achilles' heel is the off-ball shooting. A glaring weakness for a roster dominated by ball-handling superstars.

Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley believes the Lakers' front office will aggressively pursue role players who actually complement Dončić, Reaves, and James. He argued that Los Angeles is closer to contention than people think, just a few smart trades away from becoming a true postseason powerhouse.

Buckley said that while Luka and Reaves are playing at their best, and a healthy James can still contribute, the Lakers "might be realistically just one or two trades away" from being a legit contender for a championship.

Shooting Issues Fuel Trade Rumors

Despite their 10–4 start, the Lakers rank in the bottom half of the league in both net rating and offensive rating. Their biggest red flags: dead last in made three-pointers and 24th in three-point percentage.

Buckley said that with continued shooting inconsistency, the organization should loosen its grip on its top trade assets. As a price to pay, he says, if they really feel this is the ceiling of their superstar core.

Solid Role Players Still Aren't Enough

According to Heavy, players like Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart add defensive stability, but their inconsistent perimeter shooting limits the team's playoff potential-something that won't magically disappear once James returns.

Buckley insists that the pressure now falls on the Lakers' front office to fill those gaps before the postseason picture solidifies. Most offseason free agents become trade-eligible on December 15; that's when Los Angeles is expected to get aggressive.

Meanwhile, with the trade chatter amping up, the Lakers are only a few steps away from getting LeBron back. James, following his first full practice on Monday, continues to progress through his lengthy bout with sciatica. According to senior insider Shams Charania, he is "motivated and eager" to return to the lineup.

James was also linked to previous rumors: a possibility of joining Victor Wembanyama in the San Antonio Spurs and Stephen Curry in the Golden State Warriors.