To the end goal of any NBA player to the NBA playoffs, Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James never envisioned his way to be further to the playoffs than it was before.
With the Thursday trade deadline quickly approaching which possibly gave extra pressure to the Lakers team after losing the game to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday and the New Portland Blazers on Wednesday, the Lakers performed below expectations of what should be done to reach a seat in the playoffs.
While general manager Rob Pelinka is left feeling like the busy offseason was filled with roster mistakes, King James voiced a firm message to the franchise saying not to give up on the rosters just yet.
“I’ve always felt like …. the group we have going into the deadline. We’ll be ready to take on all challenges that this season has given us,” James said, per NBA.com’s Mark Medina.
“If there is an opportunity, .., then you explore those options. I’ve been like that my whole career; I’ve said that over and over. If you have the opportunity to get better, no one turns that down.”
LeBron James talks about the difficulty of building on-court camaraderie with so many players in and out of the #Lakers lineups. pic.twitter.com/MJaLF0zYLh
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 9, 2022
Trade deadline
Unfortunately for the NBA purple and gold army, it has been a struggle to stay as the championship contender. The team requires help from the trade market on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, for the Lakers, the team doesn’t possess appealing talent outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. With more than half the season over, the Lakers haven’t figured out their best 5. The team has been colored with injuries, especially for the two of the best players, James and Davis.
Obviously, the franchise wants to part ways with Russel Westbrook, the former MVP with poor play. However, combined with his massive remaining contract, it has been made difficult for the manager to move him.
Additionally, Talen Horton-Tucker, who previously was seen as a promising prospect due to his length as a defender, playmaking as a passer, and ability to get to the rim is struggling to find his rhythm. According to Brian Robb, a reporter, the Lakers recently offered the shooting guard, Tucker, to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Josh Richardson, but that hasn’t led to a trade.
LeBron James on if he thinks the Lakers need to make a deal before the trade deadline pic.twitter.com/STUOlYqne6
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 7, 2022
Lakers fate
With the declining performance of the Lakers team, the fate of the Lakers depends on the front office team whether they are able to shake it up for the team in the trade market for a comeback.
In a post-match conference, after the 131-116 loss to Bucks which was a breaking point for the team’s own belief in itself, when asked by the reporter on a Twitter video from Spectrum SportsNet about King James opinion with Head Coach Frank Vogel search for the starting lineup, James silenced the reporter.
LeBron said, “You got your answer, you see what I’m saying, Why You Gotta Ask Questions You Already Have The Answers To? I said y’all, what did Frank say.”
LeBron added, “so it’s hard to, you know, we are all trying to figure out what’s the most complete packages of lineups, out on floor, the coaching staff is feeling the same way.”
“Do I think we can reach the level where Milwaukee is right now? … Umm, no. Is that what you wanted to hear?” James said after Tuesday’s loss. “I would hope so, but we can’t get to where they are right now.”
With once was an ambition to the championship, the vibes are falling. According to reports now, it seems like the Lakers is not going to make any trade.