The NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching. Here's everything to know about this key date on the league calendar.

The Lakers' players would love to see a trade that bolsters the roster, but they acknowledge that most moves are complex and expensive.

LeBron James noted afterward that they "have to play close-to-perfect basketball" in order to win because "that's the way our team is constructed." It was harsh yet timely criticism of his roster, a nudge to the front office to make improvements ahead of the trade deadline.

This presupposes that the trade for Beal is the original roster construction problem in Phoenix that must be solved -- that under the new collective bargaining agreement, building a team around three max salary players, one of whom is performing far below a max level, is untenable.

New York doesn’t have to do anything between now and the trade deadline to reach its goals. The Knicks have been fine with the roster as is. With that said, the sense around the league is that the Knicks will do something minor in order to bolster their bench, whether sooner by getting a player back in a trade or later in the buyout market.

Time is running out for the Lakers to upgrade their roster and add another serviceable big man ahead of the NBA's Feb. 6 trade deadline.

The February 6 trade deadline is right around the corner and Lakers fans are desperately hoping for moves from their front office. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are having excellent seasons and with the right team around them,