The Los Angeles Lakers entered this offseason with ambitious plans to add another superstar alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, aiming for another championship run. However, they faced disappointment as Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, and Klay Thompson opted for other teams.
The Lakers also struggled to execute significant trades, with insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic revealing that some of the team’s role players are seen as having “negative trade value.” According to Buha, players like D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and Rui Hachimura are perceived across the league as having either neutral or negative trade worth. He noted that while certain teams may show interest in one of these players, there is little interest from multiple teams, which has hindered the Lakers’ trade efforts.
This development is disappointing news for Lakers fans, suggesting challenges in attracting trade partners despite the allure of playing alongside LeBron and AD in Los Angeles. If the Lakers hope to make a significant move, it may require taking on considerable risk or accepting unfavorable contracts, such as potentially pursuing Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls.