Looking at the Los Angeles Lakers performance over the last two seasons, it’s hard to believe that they were the champions of the league in the 2019-20 NBA season. The Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship in the Orlando Bubble, and they actually played like the best team in the world.
Since that championship run, everything has been going south for the 17-time NBA champions. Speaking of the 2022-23 NBA season, the Lakers started their new season with an embarrassing loss against the Golden State Warriors. Following the defeat, many were angry at none other than the GM of the team, Rob Pelinka. NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins even tweeted about how Pelinka should be ashamed of his offseason moves.
Talking about Pelinka’s tenure as the GM of the team, he may have built the roster that led the Lakers to win a title in 2020, but apart from that, his decisions have been pretty questionable. For example, he traded players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, and JaVale McGee after winning the title.
Lakers Fans Are Understanding The Value Of Their Former Players Now
After getting dominated by the Warriors in the season opener, it seems like most of the Laker Nation is now remembering the good old days when the team actually had depth and could shoot from beyond the arc.
Really missing these guys today 😢 pic.twitter.com/XgoAvFbcDM
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) October 19, 2022
Upon seeing this tweet, most Lakers fans instantly agreed to the fact that the organization is missing these players. Here’s how most Lakers fans reacted to the tweet:
Rob had one job and that job was to extend them
— HacHIMura (@b0frxsty) October 19, 2022
NOW y’all miss them, like y’all wasn’t begging them to be gone, lakers fans are sum else
— BULLOCK ISLAND 🐴 (@BullockIsland) October 19, 2022
3 perimeters players all 6’6 and above and elite 3&D players, too bad pelinka is horny for a roster full of midgets who can’t shoot or defend
— 🏀 🛸 (@ballsavant_00) October 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/BasedG0AT/status/1582860470180278272
I don't miss Kuzma, replace him with Malik Monk, this team needs shooting
We really judged KCP wrong smh…
— Alejan🏀 (@Alejan05612) October 19, 2022
Laker fans crucified each and every one of them while they were here.
— JohnnyBarry (@johnnybarry) October 19, 2022
These guys were great complementary players who knew their role. Lakers could've possibly repeated had Pelinka kept the team together. But the Lakers were cheap not wanting to pay players who had signed a 1yr contract then helped the franchise win their 17th title.
— okole puka (@0kole_puka) October 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/LBJcrib/status/1582849457259188229
Man i hate y'all. lol. classic case of you don't know what you got until its gone.
— chillout14 (@ogvictorious14) October 19, 2022
They could have kept them. DG is old and injured so maybe replace him but McGee and Dwight were perfect fits. Athletic Big's that allowed AD to play the 4. They could of even kept Caruso but he got the bag elsewhere. Anyways could of adjusted the roster and been fine
— Pluck (@PluckOg) October 20, 2022
Definitely need a good backup center and a wing that’s exactly what they are missing or would help with spacing and lack of shooting
— RegularGuy4evafly (@Mark_Larron) October 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/IsDon18/status/1582967095309914112
Many fans pointed out the fact that Lakers fans slandered these players when they were part of the organization.
In addition, a few fans also pointed out that the name of Alex Caruso should also be on this list since he was arguably one of the most crucial players in helping the Lakers win the 2020 NBA Championship.
