After starting the 2022-23 NBA season with a record of 2-10, and still dealing with the aftermath of the Russell Westbrook trade, the Los Angeles Lakers looked like they were headed for disaster and possibly a disappointing end to the LeBron James era in the City of Angels.
Fortunately, general manager Rob Pelinka worked his magic ahead of the NBA trade deadline to trade Westbrook to the Utah Jazz and get back a decent haul for a superstar that no one wanted on their team.
The Lakers were able to bring in D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley in a deal that finally got Westbrook off their roster, and the move turned out to be brilliant.
Along with bringing in those three players mentioned, the team also acquired Rui Hachimura in a separate deal, which also turned out to be a home run.
Pelinka’s hot streak didn’t stop there as he has made some impressive moves this summer, with a few incoming players and some vital players already on the roster getting taken care of resulting in a roster that might be a bit intimidating next season via SportsCenter.
This Lakers team could be deep next season 👀 pic.twitter.com/q7IJZ8jLuZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2023
With the Lakers looking incredibly deep after the first two days of free agency, LeBron James and company may have kept their championship window open for the 2023-24 season.
The Denver Nuggets remain the team to beat, and even though they lost Bruce Brown to the Indiana Pacers, the defending champions will be a strong contender again next season.
The Phoenix Suns are also imposing after recently acquiring Bradley Beal in a blockbuster deal, but their depth took a hit.
It’ll be interesting to see if this Lakers squad can compete with the Western Conference heavyweights and if James has one more championship run left in him.
NEXT:
LeBron James Appears To Be Happy So Far With Lakers Offseason Moves
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