With all the off-season expectations that the Lakers had, this season was a tremendous disappointment. The LeBron James-led side was among the favorites for the title early on. But eventually, they couldn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament. The team had multiple injuries and could never find its rhythm.
With an aging roster, this was expected, but not to this extent. Many players on the roster may have some regrets for the season, but no one more than this one particular player.
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Kent Bazemore last year played for the Warriors before joining the Lakers this offseason. Even though the Warriors offered him more money and a longer deal, Kent still chose to play with LeBron and the Lakers. Now in hindsight, this does not look like a brilliant decision.
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While the Lakers failed to make the playoffs, the Warriors qualified for the NBA Finals. Bazemore congratulated his former Warriors teammates and Lakers fans had various reactions to that tweet. Look at some of the reactions below:
Sit tight and be patient. This fuel to fire for you my boy
— MarQuell Jones (@MarquellJones6) May 27, 2022
He left cause he wanted to play more not really a bad decision
— Micael Corleone (@Munchy_184) May 27, 2022
He made the right decision, Warriors injury ring doesn’t count if they win the finals.
— 〽️elo (@TrolledByMelo) May 27, 2022
Say it with me “Spacing matters”. That lakers team can have all the talent in the world but with a lack of defense & the lane being so clunky it’s not gonna work. Lebron has always excelled when he can drive the lane and kick out to the perimeter. It won him titles why deviate?
— Corey Rutter (@RutterCorey) May 27, 2022
This nigga acting like he ain’t one of the reasons why we didn’t have an opportunity to win a championship
— twofive (@JAY_FADE) May 27, 2022
Moral of the story, 1 year can make a big difference. Lakers getting this chip next season 😎
— daolivar (@daolivar01) May 27, 2022
In his defense the lakers just came off a chip and we’re looking to be in better position to compete again while the warriors weren’t even sure if Klay would return healthy and won 15 games the prior season.
— Mugen X (@Blakhavoc) May 27, 2022
The offseason of uncertainty for LeBron James led Lakers
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This is a very important offseason for the Lakers. First of all, they have to hire a new head coach. After that, they need to reconstruct this roster. The Westbrook trade looks like a sunk cost right now. They need to finalize whether to move on from him or to include him in the roster plans for next season.
The Lakers lost too many players to injuries which resulted in the team not having a settled lineup. The defensive identity, which was synonymous with their title-winning 2019-20, never materialized.
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USA Today via Reuters
Mar 27, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts toward the fans after making a 3-point field goal in the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
With no draft picks and limited financial flexibility, the offseason will be tough for the Laker’s management. But this is an important period for the franchise. They can still look to reload and fight for the title again. They have a small window of contention with LeBron and they need to maximize it. Let us know in the comments below what should the Lakers do.
