Back in February of 2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers made headlines after pulling off a major roster overhaul ahead of the NBA’s annual trade deadline.
After struggling all season long, the team made a series of moves they believed would help their roster, giving up Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose, Iman Shumpert, and Dwyane Wade for guys like Jae Crowder, Rodney Hood, George Hill, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr.
They did not end up winning the title that year, but the decision to trade so many players at once stands out as taboo to this day.
Now, a new LeBron James team finds itself in a similar position as that Cleveland squad from years ago.
After winning the 2020 Championship, the Lakers did not slow down. They made a series of big-name signings over the past two seasons in hopes of winning another ring.
Instead, the results have been mostly disappointing.
This campaign, with an 8-9 record, the Lakers look shockingly mediocre — and one fan can’t help but feel a 2018-style overhaul could be on the horizon.
This Lakers roster gonna have a Cavs 2018 type of trade deadline
This Lakers roster gonna have a Cavs 2018 type of trade deadline
— Alec (@WildcatsBetter) November 20, 2021
The season is still young, and the deadline isn’t until February, so there’s no way to know for sure how things will end up.
But if the Lakers do go that route, it will have a number of implications on the league, the organization, and the players themselves.
Just ask Channing Frye, who still has nightmares about what the Cavs did in 2018.
That date still hurts lol https://t.co/2LxvqyYWll pic.twitter.com/5vjjE9ofHB
— Channing Frye (@channingfrye) November 20, 2021
Earlier this year, he went a little deeper about his experience being traded by Cleveland after being a part of their 2016 title run.
“Were you more upset than me with a 9-month old pregnant wife? No, I don’t think so. And a broken appendix? No, you were not more upset than me! I was wondering why I got so many f*cking minutes. I was like ‘holy shi*t I just got 30 minutes… ohhh no!’ I said ‘damn Channing you played… ohhh no baby pack it up!'”
Frye retired in 2019 (after a brief return to the Cavs), so he doesn’t have to worry about being included in a deadline-day trade ever again.
As for the Lakers, only time will tell what they decide to do. Whether they stick with the current roster or blow it up and try something new, there’s a lot of work that lies ahead of them.
