The Los Angeles Lakers earned a lot of criticism after they decided to not make any moves ahead of the trade deadline, leaving their roster untouched even when many fans and some of their players knew they had to make some trades to try to improve their level in the second part of the season.
Rob Pelinka claimed that they received offers from different teams, but nothing too good to pull the trigger. Hence, they still have Russell Westbrook on the roster, trying to prove doubters wrong about the point guard’s fit with LeBron James.
Still, this didn’t sit well with many folks around the league, and one former player-turned-analyst went off on the team’s general manager for focusing on the buyout market instead of pursuing a move via trade.
Talking about the Lakers’ approach before the trade deadline, Kendrick Perkins had this to say:
“I’m gonna point the finger at Rob Pelinka,” Perkins said on a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, as transcribed by Paolo Songco of Clutch Points. “That’s who’s gonna look the worst. One, is because instead of doing his job and manning the hell up, he allowed the players — meaning AD and LeBron James — to dictate this roster in the first place. And then here comes the trade deadline, and you make no moves at all? You stand still and tell the world, ‘We’re just going to wait for the buyout market.’ There’s no damn buyout market. All the groceries are gone.”
.@KendrickPerkins says Rob Pelinka is at fault for the Lakers' struggles this season 😳
"[You] tell the world, 'We're just gonna wait for the buyout-market.' It's no damn buyout-market! All the groceries are gone!" pic.twitter.com/l7PAJ8hSZ4
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 18, 2022
Perkins just expressed what many have thought since they didn’t make a move last week. The former center knows this team needed another roster overhaul, but the front office wants to give it another shot with this group of players.
After the All-Star break is over, the Lakers will have the chance to prove doubters wrong, start winning games consistently, and demonstrate that they can turn things around, even if the competition is incredibly hard. It remains to be seen if they can do so, but nothing points out they can succeed with this squad.
