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As 16-time NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers are a proud and storied franchise. With names like Kareem Abdul Jabar, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant from their stable, among others, you get a picture of how success means to the franchise.
Underachieving and rebuilding, they have been treading in unfamiliar water. Nonetheless, they successfully transitioned themselves into a position of success by getting it done with crucial trades and their draft choices.
According to an interview with Mike Trudell, the Lakers' Director for Scouting and Assistant general manager Jesse Buss said:
“We always have to do the best thing for the franchise, period, and set us up for the best long-term future. “
Buss was referring to the moves that shipped out former second overall pick D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets, letting go of former seventh pick overall Julius Randle who then signed with the New Orleans Pelicans, as well as trading former 27th pick Larry Nance Jr. and former 46th pick overall Jordan Clarkson to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
All those moves resulted in constructing a competitive young core in Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Kyle Kuzma.
Buss added:
“Difficult choices have to be made sometimes but when Magic came to the team he had a big picture vision of getting us back to a winning way as quickly as possible.”
With the core of the future intact and the addition of the best basketball player in the world in James, things are looking up for the Lakers.
As the new season approaches, they may be back to their winning ways once again.
