The Los Angeles Lakers are not having the best season and fans want nothing more than for the franchise to build a stronger roster. With Anthony Davis out due to injury, NBA superstar LeBron James is effectively carrying the entire team at the moment. Fans have seemingly accepted that the team has a higher chance of not making the playoffs and it seems like they are mostly blaming Lakers owner Jeanie Buss for it.
It is no secret that the Lakers will need to strengthen their roster to help LeBron James and have a fighting chance to be able to play in the Finals this season. However, in order to do that, the franchise will have to give up their future first-round picks and that’s where things get tricky.
Lakers owner refuses to help LeBron James
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While Los Angeles Lakers fans were anticipating a blockbuster trade to build a stronger roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, new reports suggest that it is highly unlikely. With the trade deadline less than a month away, the Lakers will need to acquire players who will complement their best players well. However, in order to do so, the Lakers will have to give up either one or both of their 2027 and 2029 draft picks and it seems like owner Jeanie Buss is reportedly not on board with that idea. According to Sean Deveney of Heavy on Sports, a Western Conference executive has shared that Buss is unwilling to trade their future first-round picks as she is more focused on the future.
Report: Jeanie Buss doesn’t support trading away future assets to help current team https://t.co/cJU679Y6la
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) January 18, 2023
“They have come this far without trading the two picks (in 2027 and 2029) away, and it is going to be very hard to move Westbrook without putting one of those picks into the deal. You’ve got a lot of the organization saying, ‘We should trade picks and win now,’ but some in the organization are saying, ‘Do not sell out the future.’ And Jeanie Buss is with the second group, and that is what matters most,” the anonymous source told Deveney.
This means that any chance the Lakers had of making it to the playoffs has perhaps been obliterated by Buss. NBA Twitter is seemingly not happy with Buss’ apparent decision, which resulted in her receiving a lot of severe criticism online.
Here are some of the reactions from NBA Twitter:
Ur father should’ve disowned you for the way you’re running his team in the mud @JeanieBuss
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) January 18, 2023
Please sell the team. You got Bron and AD showing they can play at MVP levels and she’s worried about a teenager they’ll draft in a couple years
— Jay (@JayBOAT14) January 18, 2023
you literally traded away all your young core not too long ago😭💀
— Dennako (@DennakoDesigns) January 18, 2023
Jeanie doesn’t understand lakers are a win now team not a rebuild team 💀 we have bron and AD we can easily compete for a ship with good role players
— Legoat Wrld (@lakerstrollwrld) January 18, 2023
Why did you trade away every single asset you have after winning a championship, only to waste LeBron James’ time when we’ve known for how many yrs. the kind’ve guys that play well with him, as he’s giving you 30/8/7 at age 38? Actions speak, words are weak. Tired of her excuses.
— Jim Hester (@JimHester18) January 18, 2023
Lebron and AD about to ask out this summer for sure now. I always knew she was the main problem! Worst owner in sports! Sell the team!! @JeanieBuss
— Lakers101 (@bray_lo23) January 18, 2023
Never know what will happen in the future but rn you know that this team can be competitive by trading for 1-2 players. We all know what needs to be done but FO….. 🤔. As a fan it's so frustrating.
— Eratum (@Eratum017) January 18, 2023
SHE TRYING SABOTAGE BRON FINAL YEARS
— Damaged💔 (@ScornedEgo) January 18, 2023
You got the greatest basketball player ever on your team… and you don’t wanna trade future assists to win now??!!!! You’re the LA LAKERS!!
— Rambo™ (@ChampagneRambo) January 18, 2023
Where are the Lakers standing now?
Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers are among the bottom five teams in the Western Conference rankings. Currently placed 13th, the Lakers have a 20-24 record so far this season. The Lakers recently went through a three-game losing streak before LeBron James put an end to it in the recent game against the Houston Rockets.
The hope is that Anthony Davis is gonna be able to get back out on the floor with a handful of games left before the All-Star break – early February 🙏@ShamsCharania on potential return for Lakers star Anthony Davis#RunItBack | https://t.co/Q9hUtUoPZJ pic.twitter.com/DyHF2PFdjd
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) January 16, 2023
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The 18x All-Star led his team to victory by 149-132, scoring an impressive 40 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. The 4X NBA champion is averaging 29.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game so far.
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On the other hand, Anthony Davis is currently taking time off from the court due to a foot injury. However, according to Shams Charania from The Athletic, the 8x NBA All-Star will most probably rejoin his teammates by the first week of February.
What do you make of the recent reports on Jeanie Buss? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.