Did Los Angeles Lakers Suffer by Failing to Pursue Kyle Lowry for a Trade?

Defending champions Los Angeles Lakers bowed out of the 2021 NBA Playoffs as the Phoenix Suns defeated them in 6 games. Given that the Lakers were the favorites to win the title ahead of the start of the season, this result certainly comes as a shocker.

After an injury riddled regular season, the Lakers were finally looking like a top team when they took a 2-1 lead in the series. But luck was simply not with the champions as Anthony Davis suffered from a gruesome groin strain.

With Davis out, the Suns took control of the series, winning two games in a row. Superstar Devin Booker put the series to bed with a 47-point performance in the 113-100 victory for the Suns.

Given that the Lakers were heavy favorites to go through, LeBron and Co. will certainly be disappointed. While AD and Bron carried the team, the supporting cast fell flat. But things could have been pretty different for the champions.

Did Lakers regret not trading for Lowry?

The champions certainly had one of the best off-seasons on paper. Trading away veterans for younger players like Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell seemed to be the right move by the Lakers.

But mid-way to the season, the Brooklyn Nets pulled off a massive trade to bring in James Harden. While the Nets big three is certainly one of the most feared trios, the Lakers could have had their own big three.

With the Toronto Raptors trading many players in their roster, veteran guard Kyle Lowry was one of the biggest candidates up for a trade.

Two teams had emerged as favorites for this trade, the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. While the Heat settled for Victor Oladipo, the champions did not pull off a probable Kyle Lowry trade because they did not want to lose their young talented player in Talen Horton-Tucker.

THT certainly developed his game this season and became a key player in rotation. While the Lakers could have used a player like Lowry, the asking price was far too steep for a player with an expiring contract.

Given the dearth of tenacious perimeter defenders like Schroder and KCP, this trade might not have been worth it.

Lowry would have added shot creation and consistent scoring, but considering Davis’ injury and LeBron James not being a 100%, the Lakers would still be short-handed for a deep post-season run.

With Lowry entering free-agency, the Lakers might look to lure in the veteran point guard. Do you think the Lakers will be back in championship contention next season?