The Los Angeles Lakers have had intense offseasons in the past two years, making a lot of changes on the roster trying to stay competitive in a league that sees many teams change their stars and role players to assemble the best possible squad to win it all. The Lakers are no exception, but they haven’t made the smartest decision while building their squads, going from being champions to missing the playoffs in just two seasons.
Earlier this week, they shipped Talen Horton-Tucker, who shone during that magical 2020 run in the infamous Orlando bubble, meaning that outside the star duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, every other player from the 2020 Lakers has left the organization.
Kostas Antetokounmpo, Avery Bradley, Devontae Cacok, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, Quinn Cook, Jared Dudley, Danny Green, Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, Kyle Kuzma, JaVale McGee, Markieff Morris, Rajon Rondo, JR Smith and Dion Waiters all left the squad since that moment, some going to different teams, others getting traded and some even retired from the game.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the only players still on the roster from the Lakers’ 2020 championship team.
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— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 26, 2022
Antetokounmpo plays in France, Bradley is a free agent, Cacok is part of the Spurs, KCP is in Denver, Alex Caruso signed with Chicago last year, while Quinn Cook joined the Kings this summer. Jared Dudley retired and is now an assistant coach for the Mavericks, while Danny Green joined the Sixers after his stint with the Lakers and now is part of the Memphis Grizzlies.
THT is now on the Jazz, Dwight Howard is a free agent, Kyle Kuzma is part of the Washington Wizards, JaVale McGee joined the Mavericks this offseason, Markieff Morris last played for the Miami Heat, while Rajon Rondo was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year. JR Smith is trying to find his way back to the league, just like Dion Waiters.
The Lakers have tried to assemble teams similar to this one, trying to get back to the Finals. However, nothing has worked for them. Last season, a veteran-filled roster couldn’t even make it to the play-in tournament, and they’ve tried to shake things up this summer.
The supporting cast around LeBron, Davis, and Russell Westbrook is different now, but not many people think that will be enough to turn things around at Crypto.com Arena.
Perhaps a Russell Westbrook trade for two or three pieces can do the job for the Lakers, but so far, nothing has happened with the Purple and Gold and their trade candidates.
