Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
The Lakers are giving up a whole lot of draft capital here. Following his deal, they’ll have less than any team in the Association.
It’s worth it. After all, a championship-or-bust mindset may be outdated – or, that may be something that’s said by fans who root for teams that aren’t in the championship picture. For the Lakers, rings have ruled the day for a long time.
Moreover, this group is not far removed from championship glory. It’s easy to forget, but these are the 2019-20 NBA champions. For that matter, any team with LeBron James should have a shot at winning it all.
Adding Westbrook, realistically, was always a mistake. By contrast, LaVine should be a perfect co-star for James. His off-ball gravity means that he’ll be a target for James to pass to in half-court sets – and don’t be surprised if he finds the high-flying guard for some alley-oops, either.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
If everything goes as planned, this deal should put the Lakers in a position where they wouldn’t be tanking even if they did have a 2023 first-round pick.
