Lake Show Life
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The domino effect of the Lakers not passing on the DeMar DeRozan trade

By Jason Reed

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 09: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls enters the game in the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 09, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago won the game 114-108. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 09: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls enters the game in the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 09, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago won the game 114-108. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

DeMar DeRozan is in the midst of a career season as he is one of the 10-best players in the NBA this season and that is almost impossible to refute. Meanwhile, DeRozan’s hometown Los Angeles Lakers are struggling and may not even make the Play-In Tournament.

Yesterday at Lake Show Life we posted an article describing the three massive what-ifs that are hanging over this ugly season for the Lakers. It was perfect timing, as one of the what-ifs was about the team potentially trading for DeRozan, who himself thought he was going to LA.

It was perfect timing because Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports said on Tuesday night in a Twitter spaces session that the Lakers and LeBron James originally wanted DeRozan first, but the front office did not want to offer him a third season so they instead pivoted to Russell Westbrook.

Choosing Russell Westbrook over DeMar DeRozan was a massive mistake by the Lakers.

It is quite ironic as well considering Westbrook is making more in his two seasons with the Lakers than DeRozan is in his three but the Lakers wanted cap space for 2023. Got it.

This Lakers team would have looked drastically different if DeRozan was on the team instead of Westbrook. Perhaps he would not have had the same elite breakout year but he would have undoubtedly been better than Russ and fit the team better than Russ.

In the following pages, we will break down the DeRozan trade (and what other moves it would have opened up) as well as look at the final roster construction if the Lakers chose the other side of this fork in the road moment.

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