Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers were busy at the trade deadline, adding five new players in the last 48 hours to reshape the roster amid a push to make the playoffs.
The biggest headline is Russell Westbrook is out of Los Angeles after a tumultuous tenure as a Laker, and analysts have praised the three-team deal involving Westbrook that landed LA a trio of key rotation players, including former All-Star D’Angelo Russell.
The Lakers also traded away big man Thomas Bryant to the Nuggets on deadline day, but in a separate deal landed Orlando’s Mo Bamba.
Joined the Lakers:
- G D’Angelo Russell
- G Malik Beasley
- F/C Jarred Vanderbilt
- C Mo Bamba
- F Davon Reed
Left the Lakers:
- G Russell Westbrook
- G Patrick Beverley
- F Thomas Bryant
- F Juan Toscano-Anderson
- C Damian Jones
Here’s what fans and analysts are saying about the new-look Lakers:
The Lakers’ remade frontline of Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Mo Bamba and Wenyen Gabriel is long, athletic and versatile. Add in the 3PT shooting upgrade with Malik Beasley and D’Angelo Russell and the Lakers have a dramatically better roster.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 9, 2023
LAKERS UPDATED DEPTH CHART
PG: D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schroder
SG: Malik Beasley, Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV
SF: LeBron James, Max Christie, Troy Brown Jr.
PF: Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt
C: Mo Bamba, Wenyen GabrielROB PELINKA IS A WIZARD #LAKESHOW pic.twitter.com/eWX13LoQ6P
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) February 9, 2023
3s per game this season:
2.9 — Pat Bev, Westbrook, Bryant
6.9 — DLo, Bamba, BeasleyTons of spacing for LeBron. pic.twitter.com/LcZsvcN3rD
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 9, 2023
Rob Pelinka during this NBA trade deadline pic.twitter.com/RTqnxzJ11D
— ًًMamba (@MambaSZN) February 9, 2023
Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss today pic.twitter.com/g4PmPrGf7A
— LakersNationRep (@LakersNationRep) February 9, 2023
24 hours ago the Lakers had 3 players shooting over 35 3P%
They now have 6. pic.twitter.com/HAO4pVEgcy
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 9, 2023
Bamba had been one of the Lakers’ targets for the taxpayer mid-level exception last offseason. He’s shooting 39.8% on 3s this season (36.0% for his career). Has averaged 1.0+ blocks every season. A significant defensive upgrade over Thomas Bryant. https://t.co/tMvGdvcyPz
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 9, 2023
Acquiring Russell Westbrook is one of the biggest mistakes in the history of the Lakers. Dumping him with a protected first for this haul of three players might just save their season.
Jarred Vanderbilt provides excellent defensive versatility, connective passing, and solid… https://t.co/ZEzZDRh94g
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 9, 2023
Bruh … the Lakers basically just got Bamba for nothing. They are killing it this deadline, and I'm now even more annoyed. https://t.co/5LKtJ7Iprz
— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) February 9, 2023
Lakers: “WE CANT MAKE NO MORE TRADES!!!”
LeBron: pic.twitter.com/dQV2KmdTBp
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) February 9, 2023
Lakers got shooting, scoring and athletic wing. Wolves got a culture guy and a leader. Danny free’d up bread and got a pick. And Russ getting free! Hell of a move for everybody 💯 🎇
— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) February 9, 2023
Mo Bamba is shooting 50/40% this season.
He now is the Laker’s first and only 50/40% shooter this season. pic.twitter.com/ELmLtNTDuH
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 9, 2023
D’Angelo Russell: 26 years old
Malik Beasley: 26 years old
Rui Hachimura: 25 years old
Mo Bamba: 24 years old
Austin Reaves: 24 years old
Jarred Vanderbilt: 23 years old
Max Christie: 19 years oldThis feels a whole lot better.
— Ben Rosales (@brosales12) February 9, 2023
Me telling my kids about 2023 Rob Pelinka pic.twitter.com/kKyGs3RRYl
— BRON X AD X BEASLEY (@BronAvenue) February 8, 2023
