The Lakers are in disarray.
The Magic, who had the top selection in this year’s draught, the Kings, who haven’t made the playoffs in 16 years, and the Lakers, who have three future Hall of Famers on staff, are the only three winless teams left in the NBA.
Last night in Denver, Los Angeles was defeated by the Nuggets 110-99, dropping to 0-4 on the year. It’s hardly hyperbole, Chris Mannix wrote yesterday, “to imply the Lakers’ season is in danger of unravelling,” before the game. So after yet another defeat, what are we to think of this team?
The Lakers are in disarray.
The Magic, who had the top selection in this year’s draught, the Kings, who haven’t made the playoffs in 16 years, and the Lakers, who have three future Hall of Famers on staff, are the only three winless teams left in the NBA.
Last night in Denver, Los Angeles was defeated by the Nuggets 110-99, dropping to 0-4 on the year. It’s hardly hyperbole, Chris Mannix wrote yesterday, “to imply the Lakers’ season is in danger of unravelling,” before the game. So after yet another defeat, what are we to think of this team?
Rightfully so, Mannix’s essay mostly focuses on Russell Westbrook’s difficulties. His future with the squad was in doubt over the offseason due to his dismal performance the previous season. How the Lakers would handle a depleted Westbrook became the season’s main plot point once they decided against trading him. Although he’s been awful, the Lakers can’t hold him responsible for last night’s defeat.
Due to a hamstring ailment, Westbrook was unable to play against Denver. Even though LeBron James and Anthony Davis had respectable performances (19 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals, respectively), the Lakers’ supporting cast once again failed to deliver in this defeat. The only other player with double-digit points was Lonnie Walker IV (he scored 15). James had eight turnovers, so he wasn’t wholly culpable either.
James said to reporters, “I wasn’t aggressive enough in a lot of my turnovers. “I wasn’t aggressive enough. I was coming off a lot of screens, trying to pass, get players involved. Those were mistakes I made carelessly.
But as it has been in every game, shooting was the major problem. The Lakers have proven James right every night since he stated they are “not a team that’s composed of outstanding shooting” during the season-opening defeat to the Warriors. Last night, they shot.444 from the field and.267 from three-point range, confirming their status as one of the NBA’s worst shooting teams. Their team shooting % of.416 is second-worst in the league behind only the Thunder, and their three-point shooting percentage of.223 is by far the lowest in the league.
There is a straightforward answer right in front of the Lakers’ faces if they want to address their three main issues, which are Westbrook’s dead weight, the lack of depth after James and Davis, and their subpar shooting. Myles Turner and Buddy Hield would have gone to Los Angeles in a deal proposed by the Pacers to the Lakers over the summer in return for Westbrook and two first-round draught selections (2027 and ’29). Rob Pelinka, the general manager of Los Angeles, should make the deal as soon as possible if the Pacers are still interested in it, which they should be given that they seem to be headed for the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. What Mannix thinks of the proposed agreement is as follows:
Is it a box office hit? No. Turner and Hield are imperfect athletes. But Hield has a career three-point shooting percentage of 43%. Turner, a shot-blocking big who shoots 35% from three-point range, could fit in well with Anthony Davis. The Lakers, who now have the worst three-point shooting defence in the NBA, would immediately improve.
Is the cost prohibitive? No doubt. Who knows how the Lakers will fare once James leaves in ’27. The second choice would convey in 1929, or another year. Additionally, the move would eliminate a significant portion of Los Angeles’ cap flexibility the next summer due to the $19.2 million Hield is owed.
The Lakers must act quickly, whatever they decide to do. Westbrook has no place on this squad because he is a liability. Before they dig themselves an even deeper hole, the Lakers must send him somewhere else. Even yet, there is no assurance that the players they obtain in exchange would elevate the squad to the level necessary to make it a playoff contender.
More in Sports: https://buzzing.today/sports/