The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling to keep up with the other teams despite LeBron James having a great 20th season in the NBA. The absence of Anthony Davis is hurting the Purple and Gold Army and hence they are not even in the play-in positions in the Western Conference.
NBA Analyst Nick Wright has criticized the Lakers front office for their unwillingness to include their future first round picks in player trades to improve their value and also to bringin reinforcements which could make the Lakers a very strong unit and help the likes of LeBron James who is still having a brilliant year.
Speaking on Fox Sports’ First Things First, Nick Wright shared how the top teams all over the NBA are not running away with it and the teams that are at the top do not have that Championship mentality so he feels it could be a great move for the Lakers to bring in reinforcements as they could genuinely have a chance at winning the title.
“If going into the season, we said, AD was going to be the best he’s been and LeBron was going to look like he did 10 years ago, can we maybe sacrifice the 2029 first [round pick] to get the team better? Bonus points, the Warriors are not running away with it, no one’s running away with it, and the teams at the top of the conference have no championship pedigree whatsoever,” Wright slammed the Lakers front office for their reluctance to not give up future first round picks.
He shared how the Suns are in free fall and the Warriors have not been the same this year especially with Stephen Curry’s injury and hence he believes that bringing in reinforcements in exchange of future picks would be surely helpful and make them contenders. He feels not capitalizing on LeBron James’ last few years is an insult to one of the greatest players of all time.
“The Suns are in free fall, the Warriors are mediocre, and the idea that you won’t do it because you’ve decided the new Lakers 6.0 are going to be built through the draft like the Thunder is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard, and it’s an insult to one of the greatest players who’s ever played the game,” Wright added.
The Los Angeles Lakers have not made any moves to improve their roster and with Anthony Davis getting sidelined due to injury, the Purple and Gold Army have been left stranded with no defensive presence as such. LeBron James and Russell Westbrook have tried their best but still the Lakers find themselves in 12nd position with a 17-21 record. If they hope to improve then they need players who can help them and for that they need to act immediately but it feels like the front office is holding out on the future picks as they feel they can use it if a superstar makes himself available.
