The Los Angeles Lakers have won 17 NBA titles which contributes to them being one of the most iconic NBA franchises in the league. In fact, they are tied with the Boston Celtics for the most banners hanging in the rafters.
So one would assume that the Purple and Gold will be a top-ranked team ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The biggest reason behind it is the fact that the Lakers had a Big 3 of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook last season and failed to even qualify for the play-in tournament.
As a result, fans do not have high hopes for the franchise in the upcoming season. While the Lakers have improved their roster from the last season, they are still maybe a piece or two away from actually contending for the NBA Championship.
The Lakers May Not Have A Chance At Trading For Buddy Hield
The Lakers have been in constant talks with the Indiana Pacers throughout the postseason to finalize a trade for Buddy Hield. But as of now, there is no confirmation of that trade happening anytime soon.
The biggest reason behind the talks being stuck is the Lakers’ reluctance to include their future first-round picks in the package. NBA analyst Skip Bayless believes it’s the Lakers owner Jeanie Buss’ way of taking revenge on LeBron James and Anthony Davis for forcing the franchise to trade for Russell Westbrook last season.
https://twitter.com/undisputed/status/1572961976640475136
“What this boils down to is Jeanie Buss’ resentment over the fact that she gave in to LeBron & AD, who pushed hard for her to get Westbrook.”
When Russ joined the Lakers, he was expected to help the Lakers become one of the best teams in the league and a frontrunner to win the NBA title.
However, Russ failed to adjust to the Lakers, and now the franchise wants to trade him. But due to his hefty contract, there aren’t many offers on the table for the Purple and Gold to choose from.
Skip is certain that since LBJ and AD pushed for the Lakers to trade for Westbrook, Jeanie Buss is showing her resentment over it. If that’s the case, at the end of the day, the Lakers will be the ones who will pay the price. Unless Westbrook somehow returns to playing good basketball.
