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The Lakers’ Decade of Missteps: How Poor Decisions Led to Playoff Collapse

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Table of Contents

The Westbrook Trade Disaster

In July 2021, the Lakers made their most controversial move - trading Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and a first-round pick to Washington for Russell Westbrook. The idea looked good on paper: team up LeBron James and Anthony Davis with another superstar. But reality proved different.

The Lakers' Decade of Missteps Culminates in Playoff Collapse: A Tale of Poor Decisions and Unfulfilled Potential

Westbrook's playing style clashed badly with the Lakers' needs. His 2021-23 stats tell the story:

17.4 points per game
29.7% three-point accuracy
3.7 turnovers per game

The real sting came from seeing traded players succeed elsewhere. Kuzma developed into a 22-point scorer for the Wizards, while Caldwell-Pope became a defensive anchor for Denver's 2023 championship team. The Lakers lost critical perimeter defense and shooting - weaknesses that would haunt them later.

Coaching Mistakes That Cost Them

The front office's coaching decisions proved equally problematic. In 2020, they missed out on Tyronn Lue - a proven winner who'd coached LeBron to a title - by offering $18 million when he wanted $35 million. This led to musical chairs in the coaching staff.

Darvin Ham's 2022 hiring showed the consequences. The rookie coach struggled with inconsistent lineups and defensive schemes. His rotation mistakes became glaring during the 2023 playoffs, contributing to first-round elimination and his eventual firing.

2023 Playoff Meltdown: All Flaws Exposed

Denver's Western Conference Finals sweep revealed every Lakers weakness:

Jamal Murray averaged 32.5 points against weak perimeter D
Caldwell-Pope shot 44% from three against his old team
Lakers bench managed just 12.3 points per game

Former Lakers executive Rob Pelinka's draft mistakes added fuel to the fire. Choosing Jalen Hood-Schifino over Jaime Jaquez Jr. in 2023 looked especially bad when Jaquez became a key Miami playoff performer.

What's Next for the Lakers?

The 2020 championship now feels like ancient history. The Westbrook trade and subsequent moves show a pattern: sacrificing long-term planning for quick fixes. As LeBron nears retirement and Davis enters his prime, the Lakers must:

Find a stable coaching solution
Stop trading future draft picks
Rebuild their defensive identity

Their 2023 collapse serves as a warning - even legendary franchises can't outrun poor decisions forever. The path back to contention requires patience the Lakers haven't shown in years.