The Los Angeles Lakers needed to swing for the fences in the 2019 NBA offseason. How should each move and the summer as a whole be graded?
The Los Angeles Lakers were always going to have a busy offseason, with much of their roster on expiring contracts and the front office in flux and in need of a change.
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After a disappointing first season with LeBron James on the team, the entire Lakers organization is aiming for a much more successful finish this upcoming season.
To that end the Lakers pulled off a blockbuster trade, shipping out six players and a wealth of draft capital to bring in star big man Anthony Davis.
The unique machinations of that move allowed them to make a play at a third max player as well, but D’Angelo Russell chose the Golden State Warriors, Jimmy Butler chose the Miami Heat and ultimately Kawhi Leonard chose the crosstown LA Clippers.
The team loaded up the roster around James and Davis, with holdovers such as Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso joined by Troy Daniels, Jared Dudley and Avery Bradley. Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all return as well.
On draft night the Lakers used their first-round pick on behalf of the New Orleans Pelicans but bought their way into the second round to take Iowa State wing Talen Horton-Tucker.
With expectations of contention on their shoulders and the shadow of a lost season in the rear view mirror, the Lakers will be feeling a lot of pressure to turn their action-filled offseason into a trophy-winning season. In that light, how did they do this offseason with each individual move?