The Los Angeles Lakers are at present in good situation following a robust offseason.
In actual fact, the Los Angeles Lakers are seen as one of many favorites to symbolize the Western Convention within the 2026 NBA Finals.
If the franchise succeeds, it will be its first NBA Finals look since 2020. Whereas the 2019-20 NBA season was terrific, the Lakers have did not recreate that magic within the postseason since then.
In any case, the defending champions confronted a first-round exit within the 2021 NBA Playoffs. However what adopted was arguably one of many worst selections in franchise historical past.
After an injury-riddled season, it was clear that the Lakers wanted to make an enormous transfer in the summertime of 2021.
Many names had been linked to the Purple and Gold, however the group settled on then-Washington Wizards star Russell Westbrook. It was an enormous five-team commerce.
- Los Angeles Lakers obtained: Russell Westbrook, Bulls’ 2023 second-round choose, Wizards’ 2024 second-round choose, Wizards’ 2028 second-round choose
- Washington Wizards obtained: Spencer Dinwiddie (sign-and-trade from Nets), Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Aaron Vacation, Isaiah Todd, $1m money
- Brooklyn Nets obtained: Nikola Milutinov, 2024 second-round choose, Wizards’ 2025 second-round choose swap
- San Antonio Spurs obtained: Chandler Hutchison, Pistons’ 2022 second-round choose
- Indiana Pacers obtained: Isaiah Jackson
Now, that’s an enormous commerce, however the greatest spotlight was Westbrook’s arrival within the Metropolis of Angels.
The Large 3 of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook sounded good on paper. However in actuality, it was a disastrous season because the Lakers completed the marketing campaign with a 33-49 report and missed the playoffs.
Westbrook shouldered the vast majority of the blame, averaging 18.5 factors, 7.4 rebounds, and seven.1 assists per recreation in 78 matchups.
Though the Lakers parted methods with Westbrook throughout the 2022-23 NBA season, July 29, 2025, marked the fourth anniversary for the reason that disastrous commerce.
The fourth anniversary of the transfer reminded followers of the choice, because the Laker Nation continues to be recovering from Rob Pelinka’s resolution.
“Worst day of my life,” one fan wrote. Whereas one other added: “A nightmare.”
“Nonetheless, a commerce we’re struggling the consequences of 4 years later,” a 3rd fan added.
“Worst day in trendy American historical past,” a fourth fan chimed in.
“Actually wished it labored out, sadly it didn’t,” a fifth Laker fan wrote.
Contemplating Russ is at present an unrestricted free agent, a number of followers believed that the Lakers signed him for the 2025-26 NBA season.
Whereas that didn’t occur, Brodie continues to be trying to find his subsequent crew following a one-year stint with the Denver Nuggets.
