December 15 is a huge date in the NBA. That's when a big chunk of the league, including players who signed free agent deals last summer, becomes trade eligible. (85 players, according to ESPN.) 

It's hard to know what the market will look like. Summer, for example, was a lot slower than many free agent periods, thanks to the new rules in the CBA that are far more restrictive. Will that impact trade season? Already names are getting floated out there -- Jimmy Butler reportedly is open to leaving Miami. Basically all the Nets are available (with players like Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson  being of particular interest to LA). And there will be more. 

That prompts a few big questions: 

1. Are there players out there that would help the Lakers?
2. Are there players out there that would help the Lakers that the Lakers can actually acquire, with relatively limited trade capital.
3. Are the Lakers good enough to make trades worth it?

The third one is particularly significant. On the one hand, the Lakers have Anthony Davis and a still-excellent LeBron James. On the other, they're a flawed team in a stacked conference, and probably need a lot to go right even if they improve themselves in a trade. So what to do? And more importantly, what's the next step if they choose not to be active going forward? Or, perhaps just as likely, if they're sidelined because teams just don't want their stuff, or get better offers? 

To answer those questions and more, we're talking with old friend of this space Anthony Irwin, host of the Lakers Lounge, and columnist for Clutch Points. 

It's a frank conversation about the state of the Lakers, what might be done to improve them, and the precarious nature of things no matter what they choose to do. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky  (Guest, Anthony Irwin)

SEGMENT 1: Trade season is almost here! 

SEGMENT 2: How good are the Lakers? Are they worth trying to rescue? 

SEGMENT 3: What happens if the Lakers choose not to make moves... or just can't get them done? 

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