With a payroll already at $91.3 million for the 2009-10 season, the Lakers did not make a trade at the deadline. The team had been frequently linked to Kirk Hinrich and taking on the final two seasons of his contract worth $17 million.
"We had some opportunities," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "The hardest part is getting something serious going, but obviously at the end of the day we didn't feel anything made sense. If something was overwhelming in terms of helping our roster, we would have done it. But with the opportunities we had, we didn't feel they were."
The Cavaliers and Mavericks were other contenders who made bold trades ahead of the deadline.
"I think of the contending teams, they improved themselves the most," Kupchak said. "Having said that, we're only concerned, really, about our own health and our own play. If we should face either of team, then we'll let it play out. But our concern is getting healthy and playing our best basketball going into the playoffs."