“[The Lakers] are playing offense historically horrible, a [mid-level team is] all they’re going to be this year” - NBA analyst predicts doom for LA Lakers after historically bad start
The LA Lakers are off to a brutal start. They dropped to 0-4 on the season after a 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
It's a tough pill to swallow. With a healthy roster and the addition of Patrick Beverley, expectations are high for the storied franchise.
The Lakers have one of the worst offenses in the league. Due to their lack of perimeter shooting, opposing teams have resorted to packing the paint. They are allowing the Lakers to get open looks from beyond the arc.
The Lakers are shooting just 22% from 3-point range through four games. It's a problem that won't resolve itself. It feels like the Lakers will need to trade for perimeter shooters in order to salvage the season.
NBA analyst Brian Windhorst discussed the Lakers' struggles on Thursday's episode of "Get Up". He said:
"They just need some guys to have a couple of marginal shooting nights. If they continue to play this way defensively, and they get just a little bit of shooting improvement. ... They should get close to playing [like] more of a mid-level team. But that's all they're going to be this year."
Hear his full comments in the video below:
Where do the Lakers go from here?
The obvious move for the Lakers is to trade Russell Westbrook for perimeter shooters. Many insiders thought the team was going to trade for Buddy Hield during the offseason. They were unable to convince the Indiana Pacers to part ways with the sharpshooter.
Although trading Westbrook could help the team, Windhorst thinks it would only be a small fix. Their problems extend far beyond Westbrook. He believes that they would be a play-in team if they acquired Hield.
It's important to mention that any potential deal for Westbrook would require the Lakers to ship out future first-round picks. The front office will not able to trade Westbrook unless they are willing to part ways with those picks.
With no clear-cut way to improve the franchise, the Lakers will have to rely on internal improvements to pull themselves out of this slump.
What do you think would be the best move for the Lakers?
Should they trust the process and stick with their current roster? Or should they focus on making a significant trade?
Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!