For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI. This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/lakers/onsi as Lakers Looking for Trade to Fix Critical Problem This Year.

The Los Angeles Lakers can't run away from the very real, very threatening defensive problems that could, if not corrected, derail any hopes they have of competing for an NBA title.

An argument could be made that the Lakers could really use forward Jarred Vanderbilt's defense, rebounding and energy right now.

Phoenix hosts Los Angeles in a matchup of Western Conference teams. Sunday's game is the second meeting this season between the two teams.

Early into their first season under newly approved majority owner Mark Walter, the Los Angeles Lakers already look like one of the best squads in the Western Co

The film tells the truth. The Lakers are not a good defensive team, evidenced by the sight of the NBA’s top guards blowing past Lakers defenders into the paint during a 10-game defensive swoon that ranks among the league’s worst.

That's how many games in a row the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers won. As you can imagine, that's the longest win streak in NBA history. We're a Isaiah Joe smaller shoe size away from that being a louder talking point as the Thunder sit at 24-1.

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce claimed this week that he could effectively guard the current version of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.