DeMarcus Cousins didn’t mince words when assessing the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason during his appearance on ‘Run It Back’ TV. Cousins, known for his blunt honesty, provided a harsh reality check for Lakers fans, suggesting that the franchise isn’t serious about contending for an NBA championship. His comments primarily revolved around the Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny James and their lack of significant offseason moves.
“I mean, I take it as a move as I don’t really think the Lakers are serious anymore. You know, I love everything that it stands for. I think, you know, what Bron is doing with his legacy and just, you know, as a businessman and everything that comes with that, I think it’s a beautiful thing.”
“I think it’s really, really dope. But as far as the Lakers actually competing, I don’t know. I take that as a sign that they aren’t really serious. You know, the way their season ended last year with the high expectations, I expected more from them as far as making moves.”
“I do like the kid from Tennessee that they drafted. I think he could be an instant impact player for them. But they had a lot of concerns last year that I don’t think really were addressed, and I didn’t really see those moves being made in the offseason as well. So it’s TBD in my opinion.”
DeMarcus Cousins started by commending LeBron James for his off-court endeavors, especially his efforts to build his legacy and his business acumen. However, he quickly shifted his focus to the Lakers’ on-court prospects, where he expressed doubts about their seriousness as contenders.
Cousins’ skepticism revolves around the Lakers drafting Bronny James with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. While Bronny’s potential is intriguing, the pick is seen by some as more of a sentimental move than a basketball decision aimed at improving the Lakers’ championship odds. Cousins hinted that drafting Bronny might indicate that the Lakers are more focused on LeBron’s personal legacy than building a roster that can compete for a title.
The player Cousins was referring to is Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ 17th pick in the 2024 Draft. Knecht was viewed as a steal in the draft due to his scoring potential and versatility. However, Cousins’ praise for Knecht was tempered by his criticism of the Lakers’ overall lack of action in the offseason.
While teams like the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Dallas Mavericks made significant moves in free agency and trades to bolster their rosters, the Lakers largely stood pat.
Their biggest offseason move, besides drafting Bronny and Knecht, was the firing of head coach Darvin Ham and the hiring of first-time head coach JJ Redick. Cousins questioned the Lakers’ decision not to make more player-related moves, pointing out that they had several concerns last season that haven’t been adequately addressed.
Cousins’ criticism is rooted in the idea that continuity alone might not be enough to push the Lakers over the top in a competitive Western Conference. While retaining key players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis provides a solid foundation, the Lakers have made few notable upgrades to their supporting cast.
Given how their season ended last year- losing to the Denver Nuggets in the first round—many expected the Lakers to make more aggressive moves to strengthen their depth and address their roster’s deficiencies.
In contrast, Western conference teams made significant moves to either retain their core or acquire key players to enhance their chances of contending. Cousins’ comments suggest that, in his eyes, the Lakers missed an opportunity to do the same.
Cousins questions the Lakers’ seriousness as contenders, pointing to their offseason inactivity and their decision to draft Bronny James. While he acknowledges the potential of Knecht, he remains skeptical about whether the Lakers have done enough to address the issues that plagued them last season. For Cousins, it’s a “wait and see” situation, but right now, he’s not convinced the Lakers are championship material.
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