Mar 24, 2015; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash addresses the media at the press conference to announce his retirement at the Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Trades
When it appears the Lakers are only a trade or two away from legitimate title contention, or to turn said contender into a favorite, the organization has showed a willingness to take that next step. The downside, however, is the tendency to overlook building for the future. Hence, the Lakers’ current situation.
2007:
Marc Gasol has turned into one of, if not the most talented big men in the NBA. While no one could’ve seen that development coming to this extent, he sure would look good in purple and gold. Before he would play a game in that uniform, he was a part of the deal that brought his brother, Pau Gasol to the Lakers. When the trade took place, Marc was considered an afterthought, but has easily turned into the most impactful player heading to the Memphis Grizzlies. Though that title isn’t exactly a stretch when the other players were Javaris Crittenton (we’ll hear about him later) and Kwame Brown.
It’s hard to call this move a miss, though, given that Pau brought two titles to Los Angeles.
2009:
Toney Douglas was selected 29th overall and sent to the New York Knicks on draft day for cash and a second-round pick which would be conveyed in 2009 (Andrew Goudelock). At his peak, Douglas was a fairly mediocre point guard, but has managed to stay in the league since. Neither point guard on that roster (Derek Fisher or Jordan Farmar) can say the same, nor can the player he was essentially traded for: the aforementioned Goudelock. This is the kind of trade that has tied the Lakers’ hands recently. No, Douglas would not have altered the current, dire situation, but he might’ve brought some type of consistency at that position after Farmar and Fisher departed. By not stretch of the imagination is this a monumental miss, but one all the same.
Patrick Beverley has tortured opposing point guards the last couple years on the Houston Rockets, but was originally a second round pick by the Lakers the same year as Douglas. Just like Douglas, he was sent away on draft day for cash and a 2011 second-rounder (Ater Majok). Unlike Douglas, however, the player Beverley was traded for hasn’t played a minute in the NBA. Again, not a disastrous miss, but several missteps like these two can add up quickly.
2010:
The Memphis took Greivis Vasquez 28th by way of the second of two first-rounders sent as part of the Pau Gasol trade. Vasquez has outperformed his draft position, having produced at near-starter levels over the last few seasons. As I said earlier, though, when you acquire a player like Pau, you’ll end up giving up some legitimate prospects. That Vasquez was taken so late (28th) is further proof of the successful transaction.
2012:
Alright, make sure you’re sitting for this one. We’re about to take the article in a dark direction. Two words are all that are really needed here: Steve Nash. In all, the Lakers gave up four draft picks for 65 games of a limited Nash. Most notably, this year’s top-five protected pick is almost literally holding the franchise hostage. Just as the Pau trade was the best-case scenario of a move to help the team take that “next step”, Nash’s acquisition was the worst. If there’s something lower than the worst, let me know. I’ll assign that adjective to the Steve Nash trade.
Next: Draft Selections