Trade speculation continues to run rampant around the Los Angeles Lakers. Most of those rumors involve the Lakers sending out larger salaries, along with future first-round draft picks to bring in upgrades for this season.
However, in recent weeks the Lakers have reportedly been advised to not trade any future picks. Whether that is about keeping their picks under team control, or if it's a believe this season isn't worth salvaging, isn't clear.
As of now, the earliest Los Angeles can trade a pick is in 2027. The New Orleans Pelicans own the right to swap picks with the Lakers at the 2023 draft, and the Pelicans will have either the Lakers 2024 or 2025 pick outright. New Orleans can defer the pick from 2024 to 2025, if they don't like where the 2024 pick lands.
Due the Stepien Rule, which bars teams from trading future picks in consecutive drafts, Los Angeles can only trade their 2027 and 2029 picks at this time.