This summer, the Lakers and the Warriors have been the most watched teams in the trade market. The Warriors needed to address the departure of Thompson, while the Lakers had to handle LeBron James' contract extension and continue to strengthen their roster. With free agency now open for about a week, the results for these two teams could not be more different.
Contrasting Trade Success
Warriors GM Dunleavy used the trade exception and second-round picks obtained in the Thompson trade to bring in Kyle Lee and Buddy Hield, and signed Melton with the mid-level exception to bolster their wing organization, shooting, and defense. Meanwhile, the Lakers, who had been eyeing Thompson and Hield since June, have come up empty-handed.
Reports from American media indicate that the Lakers had proposed a sign-and-trade deal involving Russell for Thompson, but the Warriors rejected it. In reality, Thompson will become a free agent this summer and could sign with the Lakers directly if he wanted to. The truth is, the Lakers don't have much appeal to Thompson.
After Thompson joined the Mavericks, American media reported that he chose Dallas because he believed it offered a chance to compete for his fifth championship. Clearly, in Thompson's view, the Lakers currently lack playoff-level competitiveness.
A Lack of Appeal
This has been a recurring theme for the Lakers in free agency. The Lakers have long coveted sharpshooter Hield, but according to Warriors journalist Slater, sources say Hield chose the Warriors because of their winning potential, rejecting offers from both the Pistons and the Lakers. Hield is the second top shooter this offseason to turn down the Lakers due to their lack of competitiveness.
Moreover, the immense emotional pressure of joining the Lakers might also deter players. ESPN reported that Thompson felt the Lakers' environment was too similar to the Warriors', and joining LA would be like moving from one cage to another.
LeBron's Dominance
It now appears the Lakers are a team entirely dominated by LeBron James. The current head coach, Reddick, is his close friend, and even 55th pick Bronny signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract. This is striking for a college player who averaged only four points per game. Joining the Lakers, dealing with the pressure of being under LeBron's shadow, and playing a subordinate role seem unappealing to many.
Failed Recruitment Efforts
From attempting to recruit Young, Mitchell, Ingram, Harden, Thompson, and Hurley, to now relying on Bronny and Reddick, the Lakers' offseason performance has been far from ideal. Currently, the market still has players like Grant, DeRozan, and Bridges available, but can Pelinka succeed this time?
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