This is a make-or-break season for the Los Angeles Lakers. This is LeBron James’ last contract year with the team. Russell Westbrook is a free agent next season. Out of all the current players on the rosters, only Anthony Davis will be with the team from 2023 onwards. If LeBron feels like Los Angeles is not the place to be in for winning a title, he can leave for free and the Lakers won’t be able to stop him.
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The Lakers have been active in the free agency so far as much as they are allowed to. They don’t have much financial flexibility to work with. There have been multiple trade rumors of Kyrie wanting to team up with LeBron in LA in exchange for Russell Westbrook going to Brooklyn. But after the initial excitement, there hasn’t been much to talk about in these rumors.
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But according to recent reports, the Lakers night be looking at alternative trade targets. According to the reports, the Lakers may go after Malik Beasley and the Lakers fans had a variety of reactions. See some of them below –
https://twitter.com/LeBronGoCrazyy/status/1549829669314232322?s=20&t=LgOxpqFMiCOmHU5J-U50lw
Something like:
Lakers get Malik Beasley + Mike Conley (maybe add Rudy Gay, maybe add Jordan Clarkson)
Jazz get draft compensation + Russell Westbrook (maybe add THT)
That’s a win-win imo
For example, this one fits salaries almost exactly: pic.twitter.com/F8UJblErND
— Spence K (@SpencerKeele) July 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/internetopp/status/1549913446291996672?s=20&t=LgOxpqFMiCOmHU5J-U50lw
Dlo and Beasley for westbrook and 2 firsts?
— NyThris_ (@NyThris_) July 20, 2022
He’s a beast but he doesn’t want to play with LePlayIns
— 24 Superfan⚫️⚪️ (@OwnedByThomas) July 20, 2022
If we get anyone from Utah let it be Conley at least
— 🐐 (@Bron6SZN) July 20, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers and the offseason of opportunity
The last two seasons haven’t been kind to the Lakers. When they won the 2020 NBA Championship, it looked like there could be a mini-dynasty in making. But injuries and wrong roster construction has taken a toll on the team. Anthony Davis is yet to revert to the form he showed in the 2020 Orlando Bubble. In these two years, he has missed nearly half the games due to various injuries.
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The Lakers were up two games to one in the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns before Davis went down. LeBron James couldn’t carry the load alone and the Lakers lost in six games.
The past season Lakers swung for the fences with the Russell Westbrook trade, but it didn’t have the desired effect. Due to continuous injuries and chemistry issues, Westbrook couldn’t gel with the team, and the Lakers never really took off.
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From being one of the preseason favorites, they didn’t even qualify for the playoffs. In LA, it is always all in for the Lakers and this time it really is.