Why the Los Angeles Lakers would have won at least one more title with Kyle Lowry:
The talent alone should be enough of a reason. Look how well Kyle Lowry has played with the Miami Heat this season and how good the Heat have been. Jimmy Butler has been phenomenal next to Lowry and Lowry has shown that he can play with someone like Butler who handles the ball a lot.
You know who else handles the ball a lot? LeBron James. Lowry would have been a fantastic point guard to put on this team. Someone who is not concerned with how many points he scores and just wants to win. Someone who is a leader and plays gritty basketball. All the things Russell Westbrook doesn’t do.
Not only would the talent be enough because Lowry is much better than Westbrook, but the pieces around this trio would have been much better as well. One of Kyle Kuzma or Montrezl Harrell would still in LA (probably Kuzma) and the Lakers would have been able to re-sign Alex Caruso because they would not have to sign THT to a new deal.
The salary situation would be similar but the Lakers would at least have some flexibility with the chance to trade Kuzma or even Harrell if he opted into his deal for a future upgrade. Flexibility is key for a contender and the team just does not have it.
With that talent and that flexibility, I find it hard-pressed to think that the Lakers would not have outlasted the Suns and Warriors in the Western Conference and won at least one more title in Lowry’s three years under contract.
LeBron could have had six, the Lakers could have had 19. Instead, they have Russell Westbrook and a fat luxury tax payment.