The Los Angeles Lakers were perhaps the most-linked team when it comes to making moves before the trade deadline considering how much they have struggled with their roster this season. However, they didn’t make any trades, with the trade deadline passing them by and Russell Westbrook still on the roster, as an example. This raised many eyebrows amongst the fans and the media alike, but it seems that the Lakers’ situation is more amusing than alarming to some.
Richard Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins were on ESPN as the flurry of trades was going through, talking about the various moves teams were making. After the deadline ended and it became evident that the Lakers would stay stagnant for now, Malika Andrews suggested that they will instead look to the buyout market to improve the options at their disposal. Jefferson and Perkins couldn’t control their reactions and burst out laughing at the suggestion from the host.
https://twitter.com/NeemAzim/status/1491868890237845514
The Lakers have much deeper problems on their roster than something that can be fixed by picking up one or two players, which may have been the reason Perkins and Jefferson reacted the way they did to the suggestion. However, with players like Goran Dragic and Dennis Schroder among the pool expected to be available, they definitely can make a move or 2 that would help them a little.
Russell Westbrook has been blamed throughout the season for several deficiencies that the Lakers possess and with him being left out of closing lineups by the coach, his presence in the roster is sure to cause even more tension as the season goes on. LeBron James has looked quite dejected after some of the Lakers’ recent defeats and while the situation does seem dire at the minute, there isn’t much else the Lakers can focus on than the buyout market.
