The Los Angeles Lakers have had a rollercoaster 2022-23 season. There have been points in which this team looks like a true title contender and other points in which they look like a team that should be tanking for Victor Wembanyama.
Spirits have been high in Los Angeles following the Rui Hachimura trade and Anthony Davis’ imminent return. Those spirits were quickly deflated on Tuesday night when the Lake Show was shot out of the building by the Los Angeles Clippers.
LeBron James certainly did his part, dropping 40 points against the Clippers to become the first player in league history to score 40 or more against every single NBA team… and the Lakers still lost by 18.
The broadcast captured a heartbreaking moment of LeBron on the bench at the tail end of the blowout loss and he has never been more relatable than he was in this clip.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 25, 2023
That is a man that has given everything (literally diving into the stands to secure a loose ball) and is not getting the results that he wants. The clock is ticking for LeBron and there is only so many more years that he can contend for more championships. Throwing this season out the window is a travesty.
LeBron James (and fans) deserves better from the Los Angeles Lakers.
When LeBron James signed an extension with the Lakers over the summer it was assumed that the front office would do whatever it takes to build a contender around James and Anthony Davis. That has not been the case thus far this season.
Direct messaging from ownership has kept the team from making a big trade involving Russell Westbrook and that still remains the only way that the team could make a massive change toward being a contender.
Adding players like Hachimura is great but if the team wants to be a contender it has to take advantage of the massive salary figure that it can trade with Westbrook. If the team doesn’t take advantage now, it loses the ability to utilize that contract towards bringing in assets.
If the Lakers do not want to do whatever it takes to be a contender then they shouldn’t be sending mixed messaging to LeBron and the fanbase. They could have traded him (and potentially AD) for massive hauls to hit the reset button and actually build a foundation for the future.
1 Los Angeles Lakers trade target at every position to consider
The Los Angeles Lakers have several different paths to take at the trade deadline. Here is one possible trade target at every position to consider.
Instead, they are middling in mediocrity as they want to convince themselves that the team is good enough to win a title despite the front office not doing anything to realize those expectations.