![]() ![]() They can ill afford to be careless after having given up so much to get Davis. The Lakers still owe two first-round picks, plus a swap, to the New Orleans Pelicans. 2021: Traded Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and a first-round pick for Russell Westbrook, which has been covered ad nauseam.That journey cost two second-round picks. Neither Gasol nor McKinnie is in the NBA. McGee is playing a valuable supporting role for the first-place Suns. After the season, McKinnie was waived, and Gasol was traded with a second-round pick and $250,000 to the Grizzlies. 2020: Traded JaVale McGee and a second-rounder to the Cavaliers for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell (waived immediately) to make salary-cap room for Marc Gasol.broke apart its championship defensive identity, and it also threw away a first-rounder. 2020: Traded Danny Green and a first-round pick to get Dennis Schroder, who left as a free agent after the season.32 in 2016), gave the Clippers a starter and haven't had anyone as good at center. The Lakers wasted another quality draft pick (No. 2019: Traded Ivica Zubac (and Michael Beasley) to the Clippers for Mike Muscala, who left as a free agent after the season.Two smaller assets gone to rent the services of a veteran shooter. 2019: Traded Svi Mykhailiuk and a second-round pick to the Pistons for Reggie Bullock, who left as a free agent after the season.2018: Revoked future All-Star Julius Randle's qualifying offer to let him walk as an unrestricted free agent.If a young, talented big who can shoot the ball doesn't fit your plans, why not trade him? 2018: Waived Thomas Bryant, who became a productive starter after the Wizards claimed him off waivers.Teams aren't going to keep every good player they find, but Los Angeles has a pattern of letting value go without recompense: The Lakers handed him an older, slower roster with shooters who struggled to defend, defenders who struggled to shoot and a lead guard who neither defends nor shoots. Instead, defensive-minded coach Frank Vogel was given a roster that didn't fit his style. The franchise should have placed a greater value on continuity. ![]() The Lakers-including James, who lobbied for the team to trade for Westbrook-overreacted to their underwhelming season. ![]() Fatigue and Davis' groin injury in the first round against the Suns were bigger culprits. The roster changes from 2019-20 to 2020-21 didn't significantly derail the team last year. The Miami Heat, the Lakers' opponent in the Finals, went through similar travails. The rush back from the bubble played a part in why the team didn't repeat. That's who the Lakers were, but it worked. They were notably below-average from three-point range (21st). The Lakers were long, tall and a top-three defensive powerhouse.Īt its best, the team struggled to score efficiently, finishing only 11th overall in offensive rating. In winning the title, Los Angeles had just one regular rotation player under 6'5", Rajon Rondo. Through the 2019-20 season, they established a championship identity based on impenetrable size and rim protection. The Lakers' wider misstep is more abstract. ![]()
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