“They have made their deal with the devil and the devil is LeBron James” - NBA analyst asserts Lakers to swallow the pill and make a trade with Pacers for Russell Westbrook
The LA Lakers, even with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, have the worst offense in the NBA three games into the season. They’re winless in three tries and are still clueless about how to address their anemic shooting, particularly from the 3-point line.
Chris Mannix asserts that the Lakers will have to bite the bullet and pull the trigger on a long-awaited trade to save James’ 20th season. Here’s what the senior Sports Illustrated writer had to say about the importance of upgrading the roster around the four-time MVP:
“I understand that trading two first-round picks for Buddy Hield and free agent to be Myles Turner is scary, absolutely. Six years from now, we could be lamenting that decision. But, they have made their deal with the devil and the devil is LeBron James.
“They decided that they were going to be committed for the next two-three years to LeBron James and they owe it to him. And they now owe it to Anthony Davis to assemble the best possible team around them."
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When the LA Lakers signed LeBron James to a two-year extension, the team also committed to a win-now mode to maximize James’ championship window. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka promised the four-time champ that he will aggressively look for ways to improve the roster.
Despite that promise, Pelinka has stubbornly refused to include the team’s coveted two future first-round picks unless they get Kyrie Irving or Donovan Mitchell. Both superstars have settled with their respective teams, but a long-standing deal is still available for the Lakers.
The Indiana Pacers have reportedly offered Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to the Lakers for Russell Westbrook and two unprotected first-round picks. Pelinka has stood his ground as he will only attach both picks if they turn the Lakers into title contenders.
So... the Lakers are being pretty open, and honest, about their lack of shooting.
What's the over/under date on when they throw both first-round picks at the Pacers for Turner and Hield?
(Also, how do you build an entire roster of guards and not get any who can shoot?)
In three games, it has become very obvious that the LA Lakers badly need a roster upgrade. They can’t shoot to save lives. They need rebounding and frontline depth. The acquisition of Hield and Turner would significantly improve those areas.
LA Lakers’ brutal schedule may necessitate the front office to provide LeBron James with a better supporting cast
The LA Lakers are winless in three games with no respite in sight in the next few games. They will face the Denver Nuggets twice, the Utah Jazz twice, the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers.
They will be favored to beat the Jazz, but that is not certain as Utah is playing way better than the Lakers right now. Darvin Ham’s squad could lose all games, which necessitates a trade for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner.
Chris Mannix added why trading for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner makes even more sense following the Lakers’ abysmal start:
“You put Buddy Hield on the Lakers, he is a starter. You put Myles Turner on the Lakers, he is a starter. And the ancillary benefit of this is that you will remove Russell Westbrook from the equation.
"Not only remove Russell Westbrook the player. But the distraction that is Russell Westbrook that they have to deal with in that locker room every single day.”
In an alternate universe, the Lakers traded Russell Westbrook for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner early in the offseason. They had 3 months of building chemistry and are now 3-0 to start the season and championship favorites. 🥲 https://t.co/jtd1sMstdj
Rob Pelinka will be under a ton of pressure to execute a trade that makes the most sense to help LeBron James’ sputtering 20th season. Pelinka’s decision could make or break the Lakers' 2022-23 campaign.