Lake Show Life
Fansided

The worst Los Angeles Lakers transactions of all-time

By ANTHONY BISCIELLO

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: Dwight Howard #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a Laker lead with Metta World Peace #15 and Steve Nash #10 during a 104-88 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center on January 15, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: Dwight Howard #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a Laker lead with Metta World Peace #15 and Steve Nash #10 during a 104-88 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center on January 15, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The slew of 2012 moves that sent the Los Angeles Lakers into a tailspin:

Dwight Howard – 2012

It was head coach Mike Brown’s last year as the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers as he would get fired early on. They had Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol as well as center Andrew Bynum. Howard was a powerhouse at the time. He could score and rebound with the best of them.

However, something was not right. Howard never truly looked comfortable and just couldn’t seem to fit in or take over games as we had seen him do in the past. Kobe would go down with the Achilles injury at the end of the regular season and that is when Dwight’s stock really dipped.

In the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers were easily swept as it looked like Howard didn’t even care. He only lasted one season with the Lakers before his return last year. To be fair and objective, I liked the role he played last season as he helped the Lakers win.

Steve Nash – 2012

Steve Nash is a Hall of Fame player. One of the greatest ball handlers, passers, and probably one of the more cerebral players that there ever was. Nash came to the Lakers in his sixteenth season at the age of 38.

To be honest, I never truly understood this move. Then again, there are a lot of things about that season I didn’t get. Anyway, the experiment lasted two seasons as Nash only appeared in limited games as he was hampered by injuries. I do not blame Nash though. His career and better days were behind him at this point.

Mike D’ Antoni – 2012-2014

To be perfectly honest, I have NEVER been a fan of D ‘Antoni’s style of coaching. His system to me has always been something that has shown to be very successful overseas in Europe. Sure, the NBA game of today, with its much more up-tempo style, three-point shooting madness, lack of defense and lack of big man usage, has somewhat adapted to his style to an extent; but still, I was not digging it.

Under the teams that D ‘Antoni coached, we did see some success on the offensive side of the ball but when it came to defense, there was zero. He only lasted one and a half seasons where he compiled a record of 67-87.

Oh yeah, to show you how bad things were for the Lakers at that time, D ‘Antoni never met Jeanie Buss. In fact, there was talk that Phil Jackson was going to come out of retirement and be the head coach once again when Mike Brown had been fired in 2012-2013.

Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

Unfortunately for him, that fell through while Jackson was pondering the offer from Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss. They abruptly signed D’Antoni and let Phil know on a late-night phone call. (h/t Ronald Lazenby, SHOWBOAT: The Life Of Kobe Bryant). 

Home/Lakers History