Well, the pain is officially over. While the Los Angeles Lakers‘ season is not technically over, it practically is as the Lake Show has been eliminated from making the NBA play-in game. A loss to Phoenix combined with a San Antonio win on Tuesday night officially sealed the deal.
This will go down as one of the most disappointing seasons not just in franchise history, but in NBA history. The Lakers were title favorites in the Western Conference and they didn’t even make the play-in. Let that sink in.
Luckily, some players escaped from the sinking ship and will actually have something to play for in the coming weeks.
There is a long list of former Lakers that will play in the playoffs.
Some of the former Lakers that are playing in the playoffs actually have a big role on their respective team. Others, meanwhile, had a minuscule role with the Lakers and also have a minuscule role with their new team.
At the end of the day, though, they will be involved in meaningful basketball while LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rest of the team are flying to Cancun to start their vacations early.
Let’s jump into all of the former Lakers who are actually in the playoffs this season, starting with those that will compete for a playoff spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Play-in participants:
We have to start with the former Lakers that will be participating in the play-in tournament. These players have not made the playoffs yet but they at least have something to play for, which is far more than the Lakers can say.
Montrezl Harrell, Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference and have already clinched a spot in the play-in. The Hornets could still improve their seeding, though. Charlotte traded for Montrezl Harrell at the deadline and since he has averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Isaiah Thomas, Charlotte Hornets
He may not play much of a role, but Isaiah Thomas is also on the Charlotte Hornets. He had his second stint in LA on a 10-day contract earlier this season.
Lou Williams, Atlanta Hawks
Lou Williams may be better remembered for his time with the Los Angeles Clippers than the Lakers. Now, he is a role players on the Atlanta Hawks.
Andre Drummond, Brooklyn Nets
Andre Drummond’s stint with the Los Angeles Lakers was short and was not very memorable. Now he is looking to win a championship with the Brooklyn Nets.
Rajon Rondo, Cleveland Cavaliers
The Los Angeles Lakers traded Rajon Rondo to the Cleveland Cavaliers this season for essentially nothing to open up a roster spot. That roster spot led to Stanley Johnson, who had a bigger impact on the team than Rondo would have had.
Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers
Not much to say about Ed Davis, who spent one season with the Lakers back in the dark ages.
Devontae Cacok, San Antonio Spurs
Despite getting his contract turned into a standard NBA contract, Cacok has not played for the Spurs. He played 21 total games with the Lakers.
Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans swept the Lakers 3-0 this season and Brandon Ingram can make his first-ever playoff appearance if the Pelicans can win two games in a row in the play-in.
Larry Nance Jr, Cleveland Cavaliers
Larry Nance Jr. was traded to New Orleans in a deal that included another former Laker, Josh Hart, who now finds himself on the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
Let’s not re-hash the fact that the Lakers traded Ivica Zubac to the Clippers for Mike Muscala. One of the worst trades of Rob Pelinka’s tenure.
D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves
Finally, the last former Laker that will be playing in the play-in is a former second-overall pick, D’Angelo Russell. That makes a grand total of 11 former Lakers who still are alive. You could make an entire rotation.
Former Lakers in the Western Conference Playoffs:
DeMarcus Cousins, Denver Nuggets
This may not count as an actual induction as DeMarcus Cousins never actually stepped foot on the court as a member of the Lakers. However, he still spent a season with the team and was hyped up as being a great option next to LeBron and AD. Now, he is behind Nikola Jokic in Denver.
Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
Jordan Clarkson is one of the more notable former Lakers in the entire league. After an in-between stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clarkson went to Utah and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award last season. His production has dipped this year but he is still a quality member of Utah’s rotation. He is a lot better than most of the role players in LA.
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks
Los Angeles traded Sviatoslav Myhailiuk for half a season of Reggie Bullock in a pointless season when the team was out of the playoff hunt because of LeBron’s injury. Bullock is a fine off-ball three-point shooter, but it would have been better to just keep the young three-point shooter.
Gary Payton II, Golden State Warriors
Gary Payton II has turned into a bit of a revelation for the Golden State Warriors this season as a depth guard who plays good defense. He appeared in 11 games in the purple and gold.
JaVale McGee, Phoenix Suns
The only real need the Phoenix Suns had after last season was a true backup five who could play 8-10 minutes a game in a playoff series to give DeAndre Ayton a break without sacrificing too much size. Phoenix added that with JaVale McGee.
Former Lakers in the Eastern Conference Playoffs:
Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls
Don’t make me do my same bit on Alex Caruso that I have done way to many times here at Lake Show Life. He should still be a Laker, plain and simple.
Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls
Lonzo Ball is someone who I personally am a huge fan of and it has been nice to see his career develop outside of LA. However, unfortunately for Ball, it does not seem likely that he will play again this season.
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Toronto Raptors
Speaking of Svi, he is now a member of the Toronto Raptors, who have bounced back to be a top-six team in the East. Mykhailiuk actually has a decent role on the Raptors, playing 12.9 minutes per game.
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers
Danny Green may have been awful in the Orlando bubble but he was still a key member of the 2019-20 title-winning team. He plays a lesser role in Philly but has a legitimate chance of winning another title.
DeAndre Jordan, Philadelphia 76ers
The Lakers signed DeAndre Jordan for the 2021-22 season and he was just horrible. The 76ers should be utilizing Jordan as little as they can in the playoffs.
Wesley Matthews, Milwaukee Bucks
Wesley Matthews was not very good for LA last season and while he has been better for the Bucks this season, it should be a tad bit concerning to Milwaukee fans that he plays such a big role in this rotation. But at the end of the day, they still have Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks
LA should have never let Brook Lopez walk. While he would have eventually left anyway, his initial deal with the Bucks was a small one and he instantly proved that he is still a valuable member of a title-contending rotation.
Markieff Morris, Miami Heat
Markieff Morris has not played much this season because of the incident with Nikola Jokic but when he does play he is a valuable three and D wing to any team.
A fun fact about Morris is that his 42% three-point percentage in the 2020 playoffs is third in Lakers history for a single playoff with as many attempts.