The Los Angeles Lakers have won 17 NBA championships, which is the second-most in league history behind only the Boston Celtics. They are known for chasing star players and building a consistent winner. From Wilt to Kareem to Magic to Shaq to Kobe to LeBron to Luka, the Lakers always have a marquee name or two headlining their roster.
Stars players alone do not win championships. The front office has to build the supporting cast around them to make them a contender. Lakers fans know this all too well as the Russell Westbrook trade took the team from playoff contender to lottery-bound.
The Lakers’ front office has not always got it right around their superstars. They have frequently let key pieces go only to regret it. Here is a look at 25 players that LA gave up on way too soon.
Players Lakers gave up on way too soon: 25. Larry Nance Jr.
The Lakers drafted Nance Jr. with the 27th overall pick in 2015, and the 6’7 big man was productive in a limited role during his two and half seasons in Los Angeles before being traded to the Cavaliers at the deadline in 2018.
Nance Jr. was packaged with Jordan Clarkson for Channing Frye, Isaiah Thomas, and one first-round pick. The two veterans played a combined 26 games in LA before moving on and the 25th overall pick in 2018 turned into Moritz Wagner. He did not work out, which left the Lakers with virtually zero in return for two quality role players.
The purple and gold have spent years churning through big men searching for quality rotation options, but they sold Nance Jr. to create some cap flexibility. From 2018 to 2022, Nance Jr. averaged 9.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 26.5 minutes per game. He provides versatility and switch ability, and the Lakers would love to have more of that around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Los Angeles Lakers gave up on Larry Nance Jr. after just two and a half seasons, and it was far too soon on the 6’7 forward.
24. JaVale McGee
After winning the championship in 2020, the Lakers attached a second-round pick to McGee’s contract to dump him off their books. They took back two players on cheap contracts that played a combined 39 games in LA. Moving off of McGee’s $4.2 million was a straight salary dump for a solid rotation big man with championship experience.
Contending teams keep acquiring McGee and paying him more money. He signed a one-year $5 million contract in free agency with the Suns in 2021 before inking a three-year deal worth $17.2 million to play for the Mavericks in 2022. The seven-footer was clearly not overpaid, so it made zero sense why the Lakers felt they had to dump his contract.
Los Angeles wanted to clear McGee off their books to sign Marc Gasol. It would be the three-time All-Star’s final season in the NBA, and he disappointed in Lakerland as he averaged career lows in points, rebounds, and minutes per game.
Would McGee have remained a game-changer for the Lakers? No. He played quality backup minutes during his two previous seasons in LA, and he had gas left in the tank. The big man would not lift the team up, but the Lakers struggled to find quality play at the five. McGee would have been a fantastic option to turn to off the bench to save Anthony Davis a bit.
23. Scotty Pippen Jr.
The Lakers signed the undersized point guard to a two-way contract in 2022 after he went undrafted. They gave him his first NBA shot, but it did not last long. He played just six games with LA before being waived.
The son of a Hall of Famer found a home with the Grizzlies and has transformed into a steady backup point guard. In his third NBA season, Pippen Jr. averaged 9.9 points, 4.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 21.3 minutes per game. His best basketball is still yet to come, and the Grizzlies got him on an absolute bargain contract.
The Lakers would love to have another ball-handler and playmaker on their roster. They clearly saw his potential, but could not find a roster space for the 6’1 guard. Scotty Pippen Jr. keeps making them pay for that mistake.
22. Gary Payton II
Payton II, the son of a Hall of Fame point guard, played a key defensive role off the bench for the Warriors on their way to winning the championship in 2022. The 6’3 guard bounced around the league before that, and he was even out of the NBA at times.
Payton II was always known as a strong perimeter defender, but his offensive game was not there. He hit key shots during the Warriors’ postseason run and did enough to earn him a three-year contract worth $26.1 million with the Blazers in the 2022 offseason.
Fans may forget that Payton II signed a two-way contract with the Lakers back in Jan. 2018. They saw his impressive play in the G League and gave him a shot. The 25-year-old had flashes during his time in LA, including going off for 25 points and 12 rebounds to defeat the LA Clippers in the 2017-2018 regular-season finale. He showed his potential, but the Lakers let him walk in free agency.
Payton II bounced to Portland and Washington before settling in and finding a role with the Warriors. He spent years helping Golden State, and the Los Angeles Lakers certainly regret letting him get away.
21. Tony Campbell
Campbell was drafted in the late first round in 1984, and he went through two teams before arriving in LA. The Lakers signed the 6’7 wing in March of 1988. He had not played an NBA game until that point in the season, but he averaged 11.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per over 17 contests down the stretch. He stayed in Los Angeles for one more season where his minutes dipped to 12.5 per game.
The Lakers let him walk in free agency in 1989, and he signed with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves. Campbell immediately became their leading scorer. He averaged over 23 points per game in his first season in Minnesota and follow it up with 21.8 a night in his second year. The Timberwolves won just 66 combined games during his three seasons in Minnesota, but the 6’7 wing took his game to another level by averaging 20-plus every night.
Campbell was traded to the Knicks in 1992 where he went back to playing an 18-minute per-game bench role. New York reached the conference finals in 1993, but the 6’7 wing fell out of the rotation in the postseason.
The Los Angeles Lakers gave up on Tony Campbell too soon. He was just entering his prime when he left for Minnesota, and the 6’7 wing showed what he could do with the Timberwolves.
20. Jordan Clarkson
The Lakers drafted Clarkson with the 46th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, and he immediately cracked the rotation. The 6’4 guard averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per game as a rookie. He moved into a starting role for the next two years as he averaged over 15 points per game in 30.7 minutes each night.
The Lakers struggled throughout Clarkson’s tenure in LA. They won just 64 games in three seasons before he was traded with Larry Nance Jr. to Cleveland at the 2018 deadline for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and one first-round draft pick. It was two quality rotation pieces for two expiring contracts and a first-round selection. When the pick did not work out, the Lakers were left with virtually zero return for Clarkson and Nance Jr.
Clarkson played two seasons in Cleveland before being traded to Utah where he has taken his game to new heights. The 6’4 guard won Sixth Man of the Year in 2021, and he averaged 17.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26.9 minutes per game during his first two seasons with the Jazz.
The Lakers knew he was a steady scorer that could be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year, but they traded him for cap relief after signing him to a four-year $50 million contract. It was fair market value as the Jazz gave Clarkson a new four-year $51 million deal in 2020. Los Angeles just let the 6’4 guard get away too soon.
19. Max Christie
The Lakers drafted the 6’6 wing in the second round in 2022 out of Michigan State. He had size and versatility, but there were plenty of questions. LA quickly helped him iron out his jumper and become a key rotation piece. Teams are always searching for athletic wings capable of guarding multiple positions. Christie became the 3-and-D option every team desires.
The Lakers were forced to part with Christie in the Luka Doncic trade. It happened midway through his third NBA season and just days before the wing’s 22nd birthday. All he did after arriving in Dallas was set new career highs virtually across the board.
Rob Pelinka and the front office did not want to part with Christie, but it was the price of acquiring one of the five best players in the world. He was clearly a developing prospect with immense potential. It was too soon to let him go, but sometimes the return is just too strong to pass up.
18. Malik Beasley
The Lakers acquired Beasley in the 2023 trade where LA dumped Russell Westbrook after a disastrous tenure. He gave the franchise a 6’4 shooter to help fill the gaps in their rotation. The Lakers made a surprise run to the conference finals, but Beasley slipped from the rotation in the second round of the playoffs. He played just 57 seconds in the series against the eventual champion Nuggets.
LA let him walk in free agency after the season. He landed a one-year deal with the Bucks where his shooting blossomed. Milwaukee was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, but it helped Beasley get $6 million from the Pistons for the 2024-25 season.
The 6’4 guard followed it up with an elite shooting season. He made 319 3-pointers and was a key reason Detroit shockingly made the playoffs. It was the breakout campaign that everyone knew was possible.
The Lakers missed out on his best production because they did not give him time to settle in with his new team. They dumped Malik Beasley like a bad habit. LA certainly wishes they kept him as a sharpshooter off the bench, but their lack of patience cost them.
17. Ivica Zubac
The Lakers gave up on Zubac in a trade that will never make any sense. They drafted the seven-footer in the second round in 2016, and he was productive in a limited role during his two-and-half seasons with the team.
In Feb. 2019, the Lakers decided to trade him and Michael Beasley to the LA Clippers for Mike Muscala. The floor-spacing big man played just 17 games with the Lakers before departing in free agency as Zubac went on to new heights with his new team. He is the Clippers starting center and a walking double-double as the Lakers have struggled to find a productive big man next to Anthony Davis for years.
This deal made no sense in any way. The Lakers traded for a rental as a team destined for the lottery. They gave up on a young promising talent to get a veteran but weren’t in the hunt. They finished with the 11th-worst record in the NBA and were firmly in the lottery.
Los Angeles was trying to avoid paying Zubac, but he signed a reasonable contract with the Clippers that summer that the Lakers would have loved to have on their books. This trade is difficult to work out, and it is clear that the purple and gold gave up on Ivica Zubac way too soon.
16. Ruben Patterson
The Lakers drafted Patterson in the second round in 1998 just before the lockout. During the work stoppage, the 6’5 wing played in the Greek league. Patterson returned for the start of the NBA season in February, but he played sparingly during his rookie year. There were just four games where he got more than 15 minutes as he was limited to mostly mop-up duty.
Patterson became a free agent after his first year and signed with the Seattle SuperSonics where he immediately jumped into the rotation. He played over 25 minutes per game for eight straight years and even earned the nickname “The Kobe Stopper” for his strong play against the Lakers legend.
The 6’5 wing had a decade-long career as a strong defender as he averaged 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 24.6 minutes per game. He played for five other teams and always carved out a role. Patterson mostly came off the bench, but he provided plenty when his number was called.
Ruben Patterson certainly would have helped the Lakers during their runs in the 2000s. He would not have had the nickname, though. Patterson would have only guarded Kobe Bryant in practice if he stayed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
15. Bob McAdoo
McAdoo was a seven-time All-Star and three-time scoring champion before arriving in Los Angeles. The 6’9 big man had dominated the NBA, but he needed one thing to cement his legendary resume. McAdoo was searching for a ring and what better place to do that than playing with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the Lakers?
LA gave up a second-round pick to acquire McAdoo in 1981, and the 30-year-old was just exiting his prime. He was the Lakers’ sixth man during his four seasons in Los Angeles, and McAdoo helped them win two championships. It was the cherry on top of his legendary career, and the 6’9 big man was named to the NBA 75 in 2021.
The Lakers let the future Hall of Famer walk in 1985. He eventually signed with the Sixers and played just 29 more NBA games, but he did help Philadelphia in the playoffs in 1986. LA lost in the conference finals that year, and Bob McAdoo certainly would have helped their chances. The legend went on to play seven more years in Italy after his lone season with the 76ers.
The Los Angeles Lakers should have re-signed Bob McAdoo in 1985. His minutes would have trended down, but he could have been a key rotation piece for a couple more years.
14. Brad Davis
The Lakers drafted Davis 15th overall in 1977, but a hand injury forced him to slip behind fellow rookie Norm Nixon, who was selected 22nd. The 6’3 guard lasted just ten games into his second season before he was waived by LA. Davis played in just 38 games with the Lakers where he averaged 2.7 points and 2.4 assists in 10.5 minutes per game.
He bounced around for two seasons before signing with the expansion Dallas Mavericks in 1980. The 6’3 guard immediately took off. He was their starter over the next five years before being their backup point guard for seven more seasons. Davis helped Dallas reach the playoffs six times, including a run to the conference finals in 1988 where they lost to the Lakers.
Over his 12 seasons in Dallas, he averaged 8.6 points and 5.1 assists in 24.2 minutes per game. Davis helped the Mavericks go from an expansion franchise to a contender, and he had his jersey retired by the team in 1992. The current Mavs radio broadcaster was the first player in team history to have his number retired.
The Lakers let Brad Davis go too soon, but they likely do not have any regrets. They reached the playoffs in every year Davis played, including winning five championships and making nine conference finals appearances.
13. Alex Caruso
The Lakers did a poor job of scouting their own talent in 2021. Caruso and Talent Horton-Tucker were both free agents, and the purple and gold decided they could only keep one of them as an avenue to limit their luxury tax bill.
Both were playing 20-minute-per-game roles off the bench and producing similar stats. The Lakers overlooked Caruso’s superior defense and 3-point shooting to sign the younger THT to a three-year deal worth $30.7 million.
Caruso went out and signed a four-year $36.9 million deal with the Bulls, and immediately set a new career-high in minutes as his defense and playmaking blossomed in Chicago. THT lasted just one season in Los Angeles before the Lakers traded him to the Utah Jazz for Patrick Beverley.
Alex Caruso is the defense-first gritty role player that every championship team needs. Add in that he is an above-league-average shooter and can handle the ball, and he is the perfect piece for any contender.
Letting Caruso walk in 2021 never made any sense for the Lakers. During their championship season, LeBron James and Caruso had an 18.6 net rating when on the floor together, which was the best in the league among duos that played at least 400 minutes together. He was a fantastic fit in LA, but the Lakers wanted to save some money.
12. Doug Christie
Before Christie was a thorn in the Lakers’ sides in the early 2000s, he actually wore the purple and gold. He was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1992, but the two sides could not work out a deal, so the 6’6 wing was traded to LA with Benoit Benjamin for Sam Perkins.
Christie last two seasons with the Lakers, but he played sparingly as he averaged 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in 21.0 minutes per game. He showed promise in his second season in LA before the Lakers traded him to the Knicks in 1994.
Christie did not find his stride until arriving in Toronto as he entered his prime, but he is most known for his run with the Kings that gave Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal all they could handle in the early 2000s. Christie went on to be a four-time All-Defensive selection and a key starter on four straight playoff teams.
Yes, the Lakers won three championships with Kobe and Shaq, but they would have loved to have Christie’s defense and shot-making wearing purple and gold. The 6’7 wing was one of the best defenders of his era, and the Los Angeles Lakers just gave up on Doug Christie way too quickly.
11. Nick Van Exel
The Lakers made a habit of giving up on second-round picks too soon, and it started with Van Exel in 1993. He was the 37th overall pick, but the 6’1 point guard immediately found his way into the rotation and was a key piece of LA’s rebuild coming out of the Showtime era led by Magic Johnson.
Van Exel was the starter for the Lakers for five seasons where he averaged 14.9 points, 7.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steal in 34.8 minutes per game. He was an All-Star in 1998 and earned the nickname “Nick the Quick” as he helped LA make four playoff appearances, including a run to the conference finals in his final season with the Lakers.
Van Exel was traded to the Nuggets in 1998 for a late first-round pick, which resulted in Tyronn Lue, and Tony Battie. Battie never played for the Lakers, and Lue struggled to find his way into the rotation during his three years in Los Angeles.
Nick Van Exel played eight more years, including four with the Nuggets where he averaged 17.7 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 37.5 minutes per game. He did not make another All-Star team, but the 6’1 guard remained productive. The Lakers likely have zero regrets as they won three championships during Van Exel’s time in Denver, but they still gave up on him just a bit too soon.
10. Trevor Ariza
Ariza is a true NBA journeyman. He played 18 seasons in the league for ten different teams, and the 6’8 wing never played for the same franchise for more than four straight years. Ariza was drafted in the second round by the New York Knicks in 2004, and he did not arrive in Los Angeles until his fourth season.
In Nov. 2007, the Lakers gave up Brian Cook and Maurice Evans to land Ariza from the Magic. He was only 22 years old and coming off a promising third season. The 6’8 wing played a minimal role that first season, but did earn some minutes against the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
In his first full season in LA, Ariza helped the Lakers win the championship as he started every game in the playoffs. He was a 3-and-D wing that averaged 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 steals in 31.4 minutes per game. Making 40 of his 84 3-point attempts was massive as the Lakers cruised to the championship, which was their first in the Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol era.
Ariza departed in free agency to join the Rockers in 2009. He did come back to the Lakers for his final season, but the 6’8 forward helped the Wizards, Hornets, Rockets, and Heat make the playoffs before that. Trevor Ariza was a key role player for 15 years, and the Los Angeles Lakers let him get away too soon.
9. Robert Horry
Big Shot Rob was in his fifth NBA season and already had two championship rings before he arrived in Los Angeles. He started his career in Houston before being traded to the Suns as part of the package that brought Charles Barkley to the Rockets. Horry’s time in Phoenix did not last long and involved a wild incident where he threw a towel at then-head coach Danny Ainge.
The Suns traded him to the Lakers in 1997 for Cedric Ceballos. He was a key piece of LA’s rotation for the next seven seasons and helped them win three championships. Horry was known for making massive shots, and he hit some of the biggest ones during his time with the Lakers.
Horry departed in free agency in 2003 to join the Spurs. The Lakers had just lost in the second round of the playoffs to San Antonio, and the 6’7 talent would go on to win two more championships with the Spurs. Head coach Gregg Popovich reduced Horry’s role, and it was precisely what the 33-year-old needed. He kept hitting clutch shots in San Antonio.
The Los Angeles Lakers struggled by their standards during Robert Horry’s time with the Spurs. They missed the playoffs once and lost twice in the first round over those five years. They certainly could have used Horry in their two finals losses, but he decided to move on.
8. Brook Lopez
Remember when Lopez played for the Lakers? It was only for one season between his stints as a star in Brooklyn and a stellar role player helping Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. To make matter worse, a key piece of an annual contender was cast aside by LA, who is now a team searching for answers at the five.
The Lakers sent D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Nets for Lopez and a late first-round pick in 2017. LA selected Kyle Kuzma in the draft, and they were hoping to create some cap space. Lopez was on an expiring contract, and the Lakers clearly did not view him as a long-term piece. He averaged the fewest minutes per game of any season where he played at least 15 games as his scoring and rebounding number dipped.
Lopez was frustrated with his playing time in LA, so he departed for Milwaukee in the summer of 2018 where he signed a one-year deal worth $3.3 million.
Brook Lopez helped the Milwaukee Bucks win the championship in 2021, but he could have been in Los Angeles playing next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. His ability to protect the rim and space the floor would be a fantastic fit on the Lakers. Yes, LA won the title in 2020, but Lopez would have helped them compete for the title every year since AD arrived in 2019.
7. Julius Randle
The Lakers drafted Randle with the seventh overall pick in 2014. They had just missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005, and it was the start of their longest postseason drought in franchise history.
His rookie year lasted just 14 minutes before a broken leg ended his season. Following his recovery, the 6’8 forward steadily improved during his next three years in LA. He averaged 16.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 26.7 minutes per game during his final season with the Lakers.
His team missed the playoffs all four years, so they let Randle walk in free agency, despite having the option to restrict him and match any offer he received. The talented forward signed just a two-year deal worth $18 million with the Pelicans where he averaged over 21 points per game and immediately made the Lakers regret not keeping him around. Randle declined his second-year player option and moved on to New York in 2019.
He became a two-time All-Star and the Knicks' leading scorer. The 6’8 forward was one of the most underrated players in the league as he averages a 25-point double-double every night.
The Los Angeles Lakers let him walk for nothing before his 24th birthday. They did not give Julius Randle time to fully blossom, and they missed out on his best years.
6. Vlade Divac
The Lakers drafted a future Hall of Famer with the 26th overall pick in the 1989 draft. Divac played off the bench in his rookie season before primarily being LA’s starting center for the next six years. He was the defensive anchor of the 1991 squad that lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals.
During his time with the Lakers, Divac averaged 12.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 29.0 minutes per game.
The Lakers traded the 7’1 big man to the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant. They regretted that trade for exactly zero seconds, but Divac was in the middle of his prime and had two productive years in Charlotte before heading to the Sacramento Kings in free agency.
Lakers fans remember Divac being a thorn in their sides in Sacramento. His flopping made life difficult on Shaq, and the Kings nearly upset LA in the 2002 Western Conference Finals in one of the greatest postseason series in NBA history. Divac became an All-Star in Sacramento, and he remained a productive role player into his mid-30s.
Vlade Divac returned to the Lakers in 2004 for his final NBA season. Los Angeles originally moved on from the 7’1 big man as they signed Shaq. It was a wise move, but they still missed out on eight productive years from the Hall of Famer.
5. Brian Winters
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar demanded a trade to the Lakers in 1975, and LA was not about to miss a chance at acquiring one of the most dominant players of all time. He was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer for more than decades before LeBron James broke the mark in 2023.
The Lakers were coming off a dominant run with Wilt Chamberlain that resulted in just one championship, but five finals appearances. They missed the playoffs in 1975 and knew they needed another dominant big man. Still, the price to acquire Kareem was not cheap.
It cost the Lakers four recent top-12 draft choices, including Winters. The 6’4 guard was the lowest of those selections at 12th overall, but the most accomplished in the end. Winters went on to be a two-time All-Star in Milwaukee where he averaged over 18 points per game for four straight years.
Brian Winters retired from the NBA at 30, but the Lakers got just one of his nine productive seasons. He was once called the best “pure shooter” by Michael Jordan, and there was no denying his incredible skill. Winters also became a fan favorite for the Bucks, and he would have shined in LA if the Lakers could have found a way to keep him out of the Kareem trade.
4. Caron Butler
Butler spent his first two seasons in Miami where he showed plenty of promise, including helping the Heat reach the second round of the playoffs in 2004. The 6’7 wing was traded to Los Angeles in the summer of 2004 as part of a package that brought Shaquille O’Neal to the Heat and split up the Kobe and Shaq duo. The Lakers also acquired Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and two draft picks for the Big Diesel.
Butler spent just one year in Los Angeles where he averaged 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 35.7 minutes per game. He set a new career-high in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, effective field goal percentage, scoring, and rebounding during his lone season with the Lakers, but LA missed the playoffs for just the second time since 1977.
Butler had strong chemistry with Kobe Bryant and was the Lakers’ second-leading scorer, but that did not stop Mitch Kupchak from trading him to the Wizards in 2005 for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. Brown never lived up to the hype of being the number-one overall pick, and Butler took his game to new heights in Washington. The 6’7 wing made two All-Star appearances and twice averaged over 20 points per game.
The Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs in each of the next two years after the trade as Kobe carried a subpar roster. Things could have easily been different if they kept Caron Butler, but LA gave up on him too soon.
3. Glen Rice
Rice was a three-time All-Star and one of the best players in the league for seven years before arriving in Los Angeles. He had averaged over 22 points each night and shot over 41 percent from 3-point range for four consecutive seasons, which made the 6’8 forward one of the most feared offensive weapons in the league.
Rice was good friends with Shaquille O’Neal, and the Big Diesel had a hand in the Lakers trading for him in 1999. They gave up fan-favorite Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell to get Rice, B.J Armstrong, and J.R. Reid. LA needed shooting to space the floor around Kobe and Shaq, and Rice was one of the best in the league at the time.
The Lakers advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 1999 before winning the championship in 2000. Rice was the starting small forward, and he hit plenty of key shots during that title run. His production decreased playing with Kobe and Shaq, but G Money was a key piece for the Lakers.
Rice’s time in Los Angeles was far from all shine and rainbows. He had a contract dispute with management and struggled to win over fans after being traded for Eddie Jones. Ultimately, Rice only lasted two seasons with the Lakers before being traded to New York.
Glen Rice could have been a key piece of multiple championship teams in Los Angeles if things would have played out differently. The Lakers won three straight from 2000 to 2002, and Rice likely would have been a key floor spacer on all of them had the front office kept him around.
2. Eddie Jones
The Lakers drafted Jones with the tenth overall pick in 1994, and he immediately jumped into the starting lineup. Los Angeles had missed the playoff for the first since 1976, and they were eager to get back. Jones quickly became a fan favorite and continued to draw comparisons to Lakers great Michael Cooper.
He helped the Lakers make the playoffs four straight years, including reaching the conference finals in 1998. Jones was a two-time All-Star in LA, and he put on plenty of shows playing next to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers front office decided to trade Jones and Elden Campbell to Charlotte during the lockout-shortened 1999 season for Glen Rice, B.J. Armstrong, and J.R. Reid. They wanted Rice’s shooting, and it helped propel the Lakers to their first championship of the Kobe and Shaq era in 2000.
Eddie Jones averaged over 20 points per game for the first time in his career with the Hornets, and he made another All-Star team. The 6’6 wing was a productive rotation piece for the next seven seasons. He led the league in steals in 2000 but never won a ring. The Los Angeles Lakers gave up on the fan-favorite too soon, but they likely do not have any regrets after winning three titles over the next four years.
1. Adrian Dantley
Dantley was the sixth overall pick in 1976 by the Buffalo Braves, and he immediately averaged over 20 points per game. The 6’5 forward won Rookie of the Year in 1977 but was traded to the Pacers in the offseason. He lasted just 23 games in Indiana before being shipped to the Lakers with David Robisch in exchange for James Edwards, Earl Tatum, and cash.
His shot attempts decreased playing next to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but Dantley still averaged 17.3 points, 5.7 assists, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 29.6 minutes per game during his only full season with the Lakers. He was traded to the Utah Jazz for Spencer Haywood in 1979.
Dantley was an All-Star in six of the next seven years where he averaged 29.6 points per game, and lead the league in scoring twice. He was arguably the best scorer in the 1980s, and he blossomed just after leaving the Lakers.
LA had Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon flanking Kareem. There were multiple mouths to feed, but Dantley was an elite scorer that never got the chance to shine on the Lakers. The Hall of Famer was at the start of his legendary career when he arrived in Los Angeles, and the Lakers just gave up on the talented forward before he reached his prime.
The Los Angeles Lakers have given up on a lot of players too soon. Who will be the next player on this list? It is something worth watching moving forward.