“They won a championship, and that automatically trumps everything” - Draymond Green dispels idea that LA Lakers made a mistake by trading 1x All-Star, says they might not have won title with him
Draymond Green believes the LA Lakers might not have won the title in 2020 if they had kept Brandon Ingram instead of Kyle Kuzma.
On "The Draymond Green Podcast," Green and Kuzma discussed the Lakers' 2020 championship triumph. Green said winning the championship justified the Lakers' decision to trade Ingram instead of Kuzma.
"The thing that people don’t realize is when you make decisions like that. So, some people who don’t understand winning would say, ‘But Brandon Ingram has been an All-Star, so that was the wrong move.' But if you understand winning, what I say is, ‘But they won a championship.'
"So, regardless of what your thoughts could be on that topic, they won a championship, and that automatically trumps everything. I’m not sure that team still wins if they keep B.I. over you because of the skill sets. All of these pieces have to fit in. What you brought to that team, you and K.C.P. were the shooters," Green added.
The Lakers sent Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and multiple draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis. Davis played a pivotal role in their championship run.
Draymond Green on 2020 Lakers
"I'm not sure that team still wins if they keep [Brandon Ingram] over [Kyle Kuzma] because of the skill sets." lakersdaily.com/draymond-green…
Revisiting the LA Lakers' trade for Anthony Davis
Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart were initially billed as the future of the LA Lakers. The franchise was in transition after the retirement of Kobe Bryant.
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Magic Johnson, then president of basketball operations, convinced LeBron James to join the Lakers in the summer of 2018. Many expected the Lakers to make a deep run in the postseason.
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Things started well. However, James suffered an injury in December against the Warriors. His absence derailed the Lakers' season. They did not make the postseason.
In the summer of 2019, the Lakers acquired Davis via trade. They parted ways with their young core except for Kuzma. Kuzma then played an important role in their championship win in 2020 by becoming a solid 3&D player.
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▪️ 4x NBA Finals MVP
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Meanwhile, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball excelled following their departure from the Lakers. Ingram became an All-Star with the Pelicans, while Ball went on to join the Chicago Bulls.
The LA Lakers ultimately got what they wanted. They won the championship and their young core made huge strides with new teams.