The Lakers finally making backcourt moves

It is not the best summer for the Lakers. The Los Angeles franchise is immersed in a failed reconstruction without achieving anything it proposes beyond selecting Bronny James in position 55 in the draft. With this, they have ensured LeBron James’ permanence in the entity (104 million in two seasons) but little else. The elimination against the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs (4-1) precipitated the departure of Darvin Ham, but since then, a process has begun that does not end, and things They are still not tied for next season. Now, yes, with two assistants tied: Nate McMillan (formerly of the Blazers or Pacers) and Scott Brooks (Kevin Durant’s first Thunder coach).

Before that, there were many refusals. The last was Terry Stotts, but not the first. The former Blazers coach has rejected an assistant position alongside JJ Redick, who landed on the team after another refusal, that of Dan Hurley, who preferred to stay at UcConn to win the third consecutive title of the NCAA instead of accepting the Lakers’ offer. He has not been the only one: Dwayne Casey, Sam Cassell, and James Borrego have not joined the coaching staff either, and there has been talk about them. At the moment, Redick is the coach, but he does not have a team to work with or prepare for next season. It is a complicated situation as we enter the month of July, and it entails a series of difficulties for Angelenos.

Nor is there any luck about the players at the moment. The Lakers have renewed Max Christie, but they have not gotten that third star that LeBron was demanding, even forgiving part of the salary he could earn (and will end up earning). They continue with the same squad as last season, one that has already proven insufficient to qualify for a ring won in 2020 with a series of players who began to leave shortly after. The signing of Russell Westbrook, inexplicable, shook things up. And the last years of LeBron, who is on his way to 40 but is still at a wonderful level, have been wasted in an inexplicable way that many found too illogical.

The accusations point to Rob Pelinka and Jeannie Buss, director and owner. Without salary margin and in a dire economic moment as a franchise, the entire situation is resigned to taking advantage of LeBron’s last years in only one way: with continuous ovations, longevity records, and many new moments for history that will bring a series of eyes on a franchise that can only opt for that. To showcase his latest great legend, whom he wants to renew for the next three seasons. Thus, the King will become the one who has played the most in the history of the NBA, something extraordinary. Another milestone in his long sporting career was that of one of the best athletes ever. That’s what the Lakers cling to. They cannot entrust themselves to much more. They are, in fact, all negative. One after the other. Non-stop.