The Los Angeles Lakers have set up better than expected. They find themselves at No. 5 seed in the Western Conference halfway through the 2024-25 NBA season, with a record of 20-15. This means they are just that much closer to getting home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

With the trade deadline coming near, Rob Pelinka is preparing to make potential moves to strengthen their roster. There is one underlying reason for the move: players that they don't want to let go of.

Lakers Strong Foundation for the 2025 Playoffs

NBA Trade Rumors: Rob Pelinka Won't Trade Six Players as NBA Trade Rumors: Rob Pelinka Won't Trade Six Players as
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The Lakers' good start to the season, based on the consistent performances of their stars, has given them a foundation for a potential playoff run. One of the main reasons, according to Lake Show Life, for their success has been their savvy moves in the trade market. They've added some good depth: 3-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith, and reliable shooter Shake Milton. However, the team still looking for an upgrade at center to solidify the roster.

Despite the ongoing trade talks, reports indicate that Los Angeles is not open to moving several key players. As per Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Lakers have firmly expressed no interest in trading star players like Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and several others.

Lakers' Core: Untouchable Players on the Roster

Trade rumors continue to surf through the Los Angeles Lakers, but it is projected that some players will be considered "untouchable," meaning they are unlikely to be involved in this or that trade. This section breaks down who the key untouchables are as follows:

Anthony Davis and LeBron James

It's no surprise that both LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain untouchable. As the franchise's cornerstone players, both are crucial to the Lakers' championship aspirations. LeBron, despite being 40 years old, continues to defy age and provide the leadership needed to keep the team competitive. Davis, on the other hand, remains one of the league's top defenders and a vital contributor on both ends of the floor.

Austin Reaves

Austin Reaves has become one of the most valuable players for the Lakers. The 26-year-old guard has been phenomenal this season, averaging 18.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game. His all-around game has made him indispensable to the Lakers' success, and the team has shown no interest in moving him. If his trend continues, Reaves will keep building his importance to the team, and that would make him a staple of the Lakers' future core.

Bronny James and Dalton Knecht

Though both Bronny James and Dalton Knecht still are not major pieces of the Lakers' starting rotation, potential does abound here. Rookie Knecht was an immediate surprise sharpshooter and already tallied a game-high 37 points for himself. For his part, Bronny may not yet see playing time above the G League, but in this brief showing, he might have become valuable.

Rui Hachimura

Surprise inclusion: Rui Hachimura is also not totally ruled out from being traded since the 25-year-old forward with a two-way value has played well in the season and he has that huge $17 million contract set to kick in in the 2024-25 season. But his worth also makes him attractive for the Lakers, however, his great potential also raises eyebrows on possibly making him the one to fit that right trade when it finally happens.

The management, headed by GM Pelinka, believes in finding proper deals that make the team a better contender, without losing out on the untradeable stars that have formed the backbone of their success till now. And though the door is open, no trade with the untouchables mentioned here is likely.

Last month, our NBA trade rumors report included De'Aaron Fox as a possibility. Following Mike Brown's departure, he could likely create a new name in the LA town.