The 2024-25 iteration of NBA trade season is off and running.

The Los Angeles Lakers might have already brokered its best deal.

Those are big words, obviously, with the amount of time remaining before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but L.A.’s recent trade for Dorian Finney-Smith felt like a master-class move from the front office. He’s an elite three-and-D wing, exactly the kind of archetype that plays up in the postseason. Getting him without giving up a first-round pick—the Lakers sent out D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three seconds for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton—allowed L.A. to add an impact piece to its rotation without restricting further movement.

The Lakers still have significant trade chips—namely, the two future firsts at their disposal—to make significant upgrades. And while nothing else appears imminent, they to plan to “continue to scour the trade market…for potential upgrades,” per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.

It’s up to the front office, of course, to determine what else is needed. The Lakers, Buha opined, “could probably use another bench ballhandler, in addition to their need of a better backup center.” Yet, their budget allows for even more impactful acquisitions, should the front office have an appetite for them and an appreciation for what else the market has to offer.

For now, L.A. wants to view this group at full strength so it can “assess the roster as the deadline approaches,” per Buha. That’s probably a prudent move, although it’s hard to imagine Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood making major impacts. It’s possible—particularly in Vanderbilt’s case—but not likely.

What’s important for the Lakers, though, is that the Finney-Smith acquisition is simply the beginning.

His shot-making and defensive versatility are both ideal traits for a support player alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Finney-Smith, however, can’t address outstanding needs for creation, playmaking and interior activity.

And that’s OK. This wasn’t anywhere close to an all-in type of acquisition. The trade budget might be more limited than it was, obviously, but it’s far from depleted.

The question, then, is what comes next. Is there another move or two that can help this club gain traction in the championship race?

Perhaps we’ve imbibed on one too many purple-and-gold-hued beverages, but we think the answer is yes.

James might be celebrating his 40th birthday, but he can continues to handle his fight with Father Time better than anyone ever has. And Davis may have slowed a half-step from his scorching start, but his ability to dominate games on both ends is unquestioned.

The James-Davis duo has formed a title-winning foundation before, and there are reasons to believe it can be the same now—so long as it has the proper support around it.

Getting Finney-Smith at a more than reasonable rate was a big step in the right direction. If the Lakers’ decision-makers are on top of their game, though, they’ll recognize sooner than later that more steps must be taken.