Los Angeles Lakers’ 5 Worst Roster Moves Since Phil Jackson Left

It’s been tough sledding for the Los Angeles Lakers since Phil Jackson vacated his role as head coach, but some roster moves set this franchise back far more than others.

Not long ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were annual contenders and one of the NBA’s most prestigious franchises. Although they haven’t lost all of their luster, this team is a much different place than it was a few seasons ago.

The decline really began when legendary coach Phil Jackson opted to hang up his whistle and retire in 2011.

The passing of Jerry Buss in early 2013 was also a big step backward for the Lakers, but most cite Jackson’s departure as the point in time when things went downhill for the purple and gold.

Since then, the Lakers have endured their worst season in franchise history, earned two Top-2 draft picks and had five head coaches (one interim). It hasn’t been pretty for Los Angeles, but the future looks bright with so much young talent on the current roster.

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With the 2016-17 season a few weeks away, though, I figured taking a look back wouldn’t be the worst idea. It’s good time to reflect on where the Lakers have been so we can appreciate where they’re headed.

With that in mind, here’s my take on the Lakers’ five worst roster moves since Jackson left.

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