Despite the Lakers’ surprising success without Anthony Davis, the team is far from a contender when healthy. I greatly respect Russell Westbrook and his ability to adapt his game this year as a sixth man. I do believe, however, he must be traded for the Lakers to meaningfully improve their chances of competing for a title. The poor roster construction of the Lakers inhibits any sustained success, even from all-time great players like LeBron and AD. The skillset duplication present on the roster, in players like Westbrook, Schr�der, and Nunn, ultimately limits the team’s potential.
With trade packages for wing players costing upwards of a first-round pick and improvement from several teams thought to be tanking, the opportunity for the Lakers to improve meaningfully without mortgaging their future has vanished.
The Lakers’ Uncertain Future
The Lakers are probably the team with the most question marks heading into 2023. The front office is undecided on pursuing a championship or retaining its assets.
According to the Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Lakers are reportedly concerned about compounding their mistakes in a ‘win now’ move. This sentiment goes against Rob Pelinka’s statement following LeBron’s signing of a two-year extension. Pelinka stated:
“So, of course, we will do everything we can, picks included, to make deals to give us a chance to help LeBron get to the end.“
Rob Pelinka speaking at Media Day to Scott Rafferty – Sporting News
The Lakers’ decisions to reject multiple trade offers in the summer revolving around Russell Westbrook has haunted them. The long-discussed trade to send Buddy Hield and Myles Turner to LA in exchange for Russell Westbrook and two unprotected first-round picks is undoubtedly off the table. The same is true for the Jazz deal that included Bojan Bogdanovi?, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and a 2023 first-round pick in exchange for Westbrook and two unprotected first-round picks.
The team’s victory against the Hawks, fueled by an unreal performance from LeBron James on his 38th birthday, is commendable. An impressive showing from Thomas Bryant (19pts, 17rebs) bolstered the win, but this is not repeatable on a nightly basis. The Lakers rely entirely on LeBron’s continued greatness to produce a mere .500 record as they await Anthony Davis‘ return.
Leverage Play or Genuine Lack of Understanding?
The Lakers’ matchup with the Mavericks on Christmas highlighted their lack of size on the perimeter and interior. The Mavs scored 51 points in the third quarter, with Austin Reaves being the tallest player on the floor at 6’4 for a stretch. Watching this game, I became even more astonished at Rob Pelinka and Darvin Ham’s decision-making.
Rob Pelinka seems to be in denial of the fact that the Lakers lack wing-size players. Statements such as “this is a guard-heavy league” are perplexing when ‘3 & D’ wings are the most sought-after commodity. Quotations like this call into question whether Pelinka is trying to save face or genuinely believes such a sentiment. The assignment of Patrick Beverly as a wing defender, when he only stands at 6’2, points to the latter.
“I think Patrick Beverly can guard wings. We look at him as a 3 & D wing.”
Rob Pelinka on NBA Media Day 2022
The Distorted Trade Market
The baffling decision to sign Dennis Schr�der after acquiring Patrick Beverly caused many to believe that a trade would be imminent. It never came. Now, almost three months into the NBA regular season, the cost for a player of Cam Reddish’s caliber is set for a first-rounder.
Given the Lakers’ only tradeable first-round picks are in 2027 & 2029, it seems very unlikely for the team to give up something so valuable for such an unproven prospect. Making a trade this early in the season comes at a steep cost that the Lakers seem unwilling to accept.
Another factor promoting complacency in the Lakers’ front office is Anthony Davis’ uncertain availability. Despite putting up MVP-caliber stats in 25 games, fluke injuries still plague his game. There are no questions about the capabilities of AD when healthy. However, given his injury history, I question whether a team can rely on him as a first option.
Differing Ambitions: LeBron’s side and the Lakers’ side
As ugly as it sounds, to have any semblance of relevance in the post-LeBron era, the Lakers must maximize AD’s trade value and convert that into young players and picks. The troubling post-game comments of LeBron James are further clues to the star’s dissatisfaction with the front office.
�I don�t wanna finish my career playing at this level from a team aspect. I still want to compete for championships. I know what I can bring to any ball club with the right pieces.
I wanna win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. That�s always been my passion�my goal. Once you get there and know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is just not in my DNA anymore.�
LeBron James – Courtesy of Lakers/Spectrum
None of us want to see LeBron wasting his dwindling prime on a team with such poor roster construction. It is rare for LeBron to be so upfront with his beliefs. Given how LeBron is elevating his game in the absence of AD, it is understandable for him to be frustrated. The formula with LeBron is simple. Surround him with three-point shooters and wing defenders. The lakers are entirely lacking in those fields.
The Lakers’ recent upset win over the Miami Heat, with LeBron and AD unavailable, bolsters two beliefs regarding this team. One is that Dennis Schr�der is a competent starting point guard. The other is that this team, specifically LeBron, deserves an opportunity to improve its roster.
Don’t get me wrong, Westbrook provides necessary offensive creation on the bench unit. But it is silly for the team to keep him at such a price tag when another play exists to fill his role. Whether we like to admit it or not, Westbrook’s contract is the source of the Lakers’ poor roster construction. If the Lakers can offload his contract for a wing player and a big, this team could have a shot. This is easier said than done. Most trade packages rumored up to this point seem to come at the expense of the Lakers’ offseason flexibility.
Conclusion
With LeBron becoming eligible for trade in the offseason and so few trade partners for the Lakers, it seems a breakup is inevitable. Pelinka should be conscious of how such a failure will affect their free agency possibilities. No team or GM wants the reputation of being unable to win with LeBron James, but it seems too late for Pelinka to avoid such a designation.
If the Lakers’ front office wants to save its reputation, it must consider a complete rebuild. The stagnancy of the team and its poor roster construction over the past two seasons is inexcusable. It would be foolish for the team not to capitalize on the trade value of their stars. So please, do us a favor, Rob, and trade LeBron in the offseason to a team where he can compete.
