Los Angeles Lakers: 3 departed players that LA is currently missing

By Jason Reed | Nov 3, 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 03: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 talk with head coach Frank Vogel during the first half of a preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at Staples Center on October 3, 2021 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

2 of 4

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Andre Drummond

You probably were not expecting to see Andre Drummond‘s name on this list as his short tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers did not go as well as planned. Drummond was brought in as a buyout signing before the Lakers’ playoff run and he did not pan out how the team expected.

Drummond was simply causing a spacing issue alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the playoffs, so much to the point where the team had to stop playing him playoff minutes. That spacing would not be any better with Russell Westbrook on the team as well.

However, it isn’t like the Lakers have committed to going small. They are doing the same thing with the spacing but instead of Andre Drummond, they have either Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan.

Drummond is better than both Howard and Jordan, particularly Jordan, who has looked awful thus far this season. If the Lakers would have kept Drummond around and brought in Howard then the team would have had a better outlook, at least for the regular season.

The chances of Drummond returning were always slim because of his bad experience in LA. However, he took a backup role with the 76ers so perhaps the Lakers could have convinced him to come back and play 18 or so minutes per game.

Home/Lakers News