The Lakers came into the 2021-22 season with championship aspirations after climbing the mountain two years ago and then looking dominant in 2021 as they went up 2-1 on the eventual Western Conference Champion Phoenix Suns before injuries to Anthony Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope blasted them out of the first round.
Things haven’t gone according to plan this year. The Lakers are 27-34 in what is becoming the most disappointing season in Lakers history. Rob Pelinka made a massive mistake trading for Russell Westbrook, a player who thrives with the rock in his hands and looks lost playing off-the-ball next to LeBron James. Anthony Davis is a top-10 player when he’s right, but ever since he put a chip in his pocket hasn’t been able to stay on the court.
The Purple and Gold’s problems go deeper than their mismatched and hobbled “Big-3.” The Lakers are a top heavy mess. Rob Pelinka pushed nearly all his available cap space into three maxed-out players, leaving the rest of the roster a barren wasteland. LA currently has one viable center, Dwight Howard, who at 36 has trouble playing extended minutes. They also have no legitimate 3-and-D wings who can spread the floor on the fun side and play above-average defense.
For all the Lakers’ problems, they still have what nearly every other organization in the NBA covets, a top-5 player in LeBron James.
LBJ has kept Father Time tied up in the basement longer than anyone expected, but he’s chewing through his ropes and is bound to escape at some point. The Lakers have one more chance to reset around their superstar and chase another title.
Below we propose three offseason scenarios that would allow the Purple and Gold to construct a better roster for LeBron James by trading Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis.
Scenario No. 1
Houston Rockets Receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: John Wall, Christian Wood
Boston Celtics Receive: Anthony Davis
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams III
Lakers New Starting Lineup: John Wall, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Christian Wood, Robert Williams
The Lakers and Rockets finally swap the two worst contracts in the league. John Wall is not a better player than Russell Westbrook, but he’d probably be a nicer fit in LA. The Lakers make this deal hoping after John Wall spent the entire 2021-22 season sitting on his sofa, he’d be happy to take the kind of 3-and-D role that Brodie has scoffed at. Wall isn’t known for his long distance shooting or on-ball defense, but he’s a much better ballhawk than Russell Westbrook, and without significant playmaking duties, he should go hard on D for the Lakers. Wall is also only a couple years removed from shooting 37.1% from three-point range for the 2017-18 Wizards, a season mark Brodie has never come close to reaching.
The Lakers would also land Christian Wood to play the starting power forward position. Wood is averaging a double-double for the Rockets this season with 17.5 PPG and 10.1 RPG. He’s not a top-tier rim protector, but he’s mobile enough to play the 4 and would provide excellent supplementary shot blocking for the Purple and Gold. Wood is a solid three-point shooter, connecting on 37.4% from deep off 4.9 attempts per game, and he’s a springy leaper who finishes well at the rim.
The Lakers would hate to lose Anthony Davis because he’s already proven he can win a title next to LeBron James. The problem for the Purple and Gold is simple, though, AD can’t stay on the court, and LA can’t waste another year of LBJ’s greatness, praying their superstar big man makes it through the season in one piece.