Two games into the 2022-23 NBA regular season and it's time for the Los Angeles Lakers to face reality: They need to figure out a Russell Westbrook trade.

On its face, the Lakers' 103-97 loss to the L.A. Clippers Thursday night shouldn't be the impetus behind a major shakeup. They almost beat the Clippers! Westbrook battled on defense down the stretch! LeBron James had a dunk that made people tweet! And he came with a pair of blocks (and one goaltend) that solicited droves of "Year 20 ??" responses! Anthony Davis survived a back injury scare in the third quarter to return! And did I mention they almost beat the Clippers, who are good and deep and actual title contenders?!?

This is all sort of the point. "Almost" is the Lakers' ceiling. And every game they let this version of LeBron wander through middle of nowhere with this supporting cast is franchise malpractice.

If the latest news is any indication, the big move—or any move at all—the Lakers need isn't coming anytime soon. Here's what Adrian Wojnarowski said on ESPN's NBA Countdown (h/t Hoops Rumors' Luke Adams):

“I’m told to expect Rob Pelinka and the Lakers to wait until post-Thanksgiving, 20 games into the season. And see what teams may start pivoting who don’t start off well, who decide that they may start to unload players and perhaps get involved in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.”

Um, yeah, no. The Lakers cannot afford to wait 20 games. Seven of their next 18 come against probable tankers, but they could very easily lose the other 11. And starting off 6-13 in this year's hellfire of a Western Conference is akin to consigning yourself to the play-in race. That's inexcusable, always, when you have LeBron. But especially when you have LeBron in his age-38 season.