The Los Angeles Lakers have been very busy this offseason, or at least that’s what they have been trying to do. Following the underwhelming 2021-22 NBA season, the Lakers are trying to improve their roster. But till now, they haven’t found a lot of success in doing so.
The biggest trade that the Purple and Gold have made so far is of acquiring Patrick Beverley. Since the Lakers need a player with great defensive prowess, Pat Bev should theoretically fit well on the roster.
But the biggest factor that could nullify Beverley’s talent is the presence of Russell Westbrook on the roster. Russ has a long history with Pat Bev full of altercations, and the two players will now be sharing the same locker room. At first sight, it feels like this will give birth to a very toxic environment.
Channing Frye Believes The Lakers’ New Roster Is Gross
It seems like Frye wholeheartedly believes that having Beverley and Westbrook is not the recipe for success by any means. He was quite vocal in a recent podcast about not liking the roster that the Lakers have constructed for the upcoming season.
(Starts at 23:27):
“I don’t like the makeup of this team. I don’t like it. I think it’s gross. I really think it’s gross, the makeup of the team. That’s like somebody handing you a burger and like half ketchup on it. I’m not talking about all those players. I like Patrick Beverley. I think he’s f*****g so entertaining and makes my job the best. Bron is Bron. AD is special – haven’t seen AD play in a long time. Russ last year is a dynamic, one of the most athletic, best guards that has ever played the game. He was boo boo last year. He was available, but he wasn’t his right self.”
At the end of the day, Frye’s assessment of the Lakers comes down to the presence of Westbrook on the team. If this was Russell Westbrook from two or three seasons ago, the Lakers would be hailed as one of the best teams in the league and a frontrunner to win the NBA Championship.
But that wasn’t the Russ that the Lakers got last season, so it’s understandable that people are skeptical of the Lakers before the commencement of the 2022-23 NBA season.
