Christmas Collapse Signals Crisis for Purple and Gold
Los Angeles, December 27, 2025 – The Christmas Day lights at Crypto.com Arena are usually reserved for showcasing the NBA’s brightest stars, but on Thursday, they only illuminated the cracks in the Los Angeles Lakers’ foundation. The 119-96 drubbing at the hands of the Houston Rockets wasn’t just a loss; it was an indictment. As the final buzzer sounded, the festive atmosphere had long since curdled into boos, leaving a franchise—supposedly built for a championship run—staring into the abyss of a lost season.
The box score will show a 23-point blowout, but the reality was far grimmer. The Lakers looked lethargic and disjointed, a team going through the motions rather than fighting for its playoff life. In the post-game press conference, the frustration was palpable. Head Coach JJ Redick didn’t hide behind coach-speak or platitudes. Instead, he questioned the one thing that should be non-negotiable: effort.
When a coach publicly laments that his squad simply “didn’t care enough,” it rings alarm bells throughout the organization. But Redick wasn’t alone in his assessment. Luka Doncic, the superstar engine of this team, offered a candid and concerning echo of his coach’s sentiment. The Slovenian virtuoso, usually focused on on-court solutions, seemed at a loss for tactical answers, pointing instead to a fundamental brokenness in the locker room. “Something needs to change,” Doncic admitted, casting a shadow over the roster’s current construction.
The cries for “change” have naturally pivoted the conversation to the trade market, but the front office faces a harsh reality: the cupboard is bare, and the store is effectively closed.
This isn’t the trade deadline of years past where a single move could rebalance the scales. The modern NBA market has shifted, and the Lakers are finding themselves on the wrong side of supply and demand. The team desperately needs athletic, defensive-minded wings to stop the bleeding, but those players are currently the league’s most hoarded commodity.
If the Lakers are hoping for a miracle cure, the prognosis is grim. The organization is seemingly cornered, forced to look at marginal upgrades rather than transformative splashes. Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis has emerged as a potential target, but relying on a rotational piece to solve a systemic apathy problem is a gamble that reeks of desperation.
“The market for athletic, defensive-minded players is extremely slim this year, leaving the Lakers with little to no options to immediately improve their title outlook this year.”
Siegel’s assessment serves as a cold dose of reality for the Lakers fanbase. The implication is clear: there is no cavalry coming over the hill. The link to Keon Ellis highlights just how thin the options are—Ellis is a capable defender, but he is not the savior a franchise like the Lakers typically hunts for in times of crisis.
The Lakers are at a dangerous inflection point. When the coach questions the heart of the team and the star player demands change, the status quo is no longer tenable. However, with a frozen trade market and limited assets, the “change” Doncic is asking for may have to come from within. If they cannot find a way to “care enough” with the players currently in the building, the 2025-26 season threatens to end not with a parade, but with a whimper.
