Westbrook trade and 9 other regrettable Lakers moves Pelinka botched
By Tyler Watts
7. Signing Kendrick Nunn
The Lakers inked Nunn to a two-year deal worth $10 million in 2021. The 6’2 guard averaged 15.0 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 29.4 minutes per game during his first two NBA seasons with the Heat, and LA believed they were getting a valuable sixth man.
Nunn missed the entire 2021-22 season with a knee injury as the Lakers won just 33 games and missed the playoffs. He accepted his player option to return to LA this season, but the 27-year-old struggled. Nunn averaged 6.7 points in 13.5 minutes per game before being traded with three second-round picks to the Wizards for Rui Hachimura at the deadline.
Kendrick Nunn reportedly turned down more money to sign with the Lakers, but the deal was a bust. The Lakers got a total of 528 minutes and 262 points for the $10 million they gave to the 6’2 guard. LA did not have cap space, so giving $5 million per season to Nunn was one of their limited assets, and it was a massive miss for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ brain trust.
Nunn played a similar role in Washington after the trade, but he improved his efficiency. The 27-year-old heads back into free agency this summer, but he will likely have to settle for a minimum contract.