The Lakers in Los Angeles have break up fairly a little bit of nice offers round franchise historical past, however the failed offers proceed to plague them.
Through the 2025 take care of 1976 commerce, the Magic Johnson draft, and the 1996 draft night time swap Kobe Bryant and Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers acquired a number of the greatest offers in NBA historical past.
Nonetheless, even the league’s most flashy franchises usually are not affected by the errata. After weeks of hypothesis on August 6, 2021, the Lakers traded Isaiah Jackson, Kentavia Caldwell Pope, Montrezle Harrell and Kyle Kuzma for Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ “Massive 3” missed the playoffs collectively of their solely full season. Westbrook’s tenure with the Lakers was one of many worst strikes the franchise had made, however on the time it was touted as a great transfer.
In 2020, the Lakers gained the NBA Finals. The NBA Finals was the one banner James and Davis dropped at Hollywood. The next yr they misplaced the primary spherical to the Phoenix Suns, and it was clear that their roster wanted an overhaul.
Westbrook averaged triple doubles from his fourth season and gained the MVP vote final yr, however was nonetheless at his prime on the time, hoping to assist James win one other ring.
“If he finally ends up with the Lakers, clearly, even when they have been within the championship photograph final yr’s adverts and LeBron repeatedly falls, Russell Westbrook undoubtedly will improve your probabilities,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith stated earlier than the deal.
The Lakers did not have to surrender the star in alternate for Westbrook. Additionally, depth items like Carmelo Anthony, Talen Horton Tucker and Austin Reeves have been anticipated to step up, however Westbrook was anticipated to turn out to be an engine.
“When you’ve gotten guys like Russell Westbrook and LeBron James on the identical staff, they put a heavy load on you,” Kendrick Perkins stated in August 2021.
In fact, the Lakers solely gained 33 video games in Westbrook’s first season, turning him over to the Utah Jazz for Penny within the following season’s {dollars}.
In the summertime of 2021, the Lakers added Westbrook, Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan and others who finally handed their prime.
To create space for these getting old stars, the Lakers didn’t maintain Dennis Schroeder, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, Kentavia Caldwell Pope, and Andre Drummond.
With fun, Westbrook, who was 32 on the time, lasted James and gave Davis a long-term working buddy after LeBron retired.
“LeBron James wants Russell Westbrook due to the straightforward incontrovertible fact that he is at an age,” Perkins outlined. “Russell Westbrook is simply 32, which suggests he is nonetheless at his prime.”
Westbrook has not but signed a contract this summer time, however James nonetheless controls.
In 2021, the Lakers added 14 gamers in the summertime and let go of the identical quantity.
Of the 14 added, solely three are nonetheless within the NBA. Of the remaining 14, 5 are within the league. They’re all productive gamers.
