According to Lakers Daily, the image of the Los Angeles franchise is currently at an all-time low due to the decisions made this summer
The summer of Los Angeles Lakers has been, to say the least, curious. The franchise, after failing again in another NBA season, got rid of Darvin Ham and hired JJ Redick as head coach despite having no experience. Additionally, no signings were made in Free Agency and Bronny James, son of LeBron James, was drafted, showing in the Summer League that he is not at the level of the best league in the world.
The failure of the Russell Westbrook trade continues to loom over the Lakers franchise. The bet on Westbrook, who was supposed to be the final piece in a team destined to compete for the championship, turned out to be a disaster, and the effects of that decision continue to burden the organization. According to Lakers Daily from the NBA Rumors, the Lakers are painfully aware that another mistake of that magnitude could close their championship window and force Jeanie Buss, the team owner, to make structural changes she would rather avoid at all costs.
This fear has led to a paralysis in making key decisions. After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and a disappointing season, the Lakers knew they needed to improve the roster. However, as the summer progressed, the expected decisions were delayed or simply not made. The uncertainty has spread from management to the court, affecting even how other teams perceive the Lakers.
The perceived ineptitude of the Lakers
Sources within the league as reported by Lakers Daily have indicated that the rest of the NBA teams are fully aware of the current fragility of the Los Angeles franchise. The words “inept and desperate” have been used by some rival executives to describe the situation in Los Angeles. These teams are seizing every opportunity to gain advantage in negotiations with the Lakers, knowing that the franchise is in a position of weakness.
An executive from the Eastern Conference summed up the situation by saying, “They are trapped in fear of making another mistake like with Westbrook, and that has left them frozen. They are desperate to improve the team, but at the same time, they are so afraid of making the wrong move that they are not taking any step at all.”
