The Los Angeles Lakers missed out on the chance to land Kyle Lowry, probably the hottest name on the trade deadline. The Toronto Raptors point guard appeared to be ready to leave the Canadian franchise but none of that happened and he’s staying in Tampa to keep playing with the 2019 NBA champions.
The Lakers, Sixers, and Heat were the favorites to acquire his services before the deadline struck but nothing happened. The Sixers landed George Hill and the Heat added Victor Oladipo, acquiring pieces that will take their game to the next level. However, things were different for the Lakers, who didn’t make any move.
Kendrick Perkins wasn’t happy with that situation and he vented his frustrations with the way the team acted on the trade deadline and their unwillingness to deal Talen Horton-Tucker to get Lowry. The former player said that this was the trade they needed seeing how bad their role players are doing without LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the court (4:00 mark).
“You cool with Bron, I’m cool with Bron. You got his number, you call him and ask him what his level of concern is right now after watching this Lakers team play without him. Because to me, the role players are not stepping up. This is why I said yesterday that if I’m the Lakers front office, I am making that trade for Kyle Lowry, I don’t care what I give up.”
The Lakers have lost four of their last five games and that situation doesn’t seem to be promising knowing they have Bron and AD inactive due to injuries. They have a series of players that could pick up in the buyout market but missing the chance to land Lowry seems like a bad move in the eyes of Perk.
Well, just like the Miami Heat and Tyler Herro, the Lakers weren’t willing to deal their young player to Toronto in exchange for 35-year-old Lowry. They will have to wait and see how things go without LeBron and AD and see if they can catch something with free agents.
