On Friday, former Lakers assistant coach and current Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen talked with CBS Sports radio host Zach Gelb about the tumultuous 2018-19 season in Los Angeles. Madsen was apart of a coaching staff that traversed through LeBron James’ first season with playoff aspirations, trade rumors and an abrupt resignation at the end of the year.
It was those trade rumors that did the most damage. In the middle of the season, trade talks between the Lakers and Pelicans heated up to a degree that most assumed a deal was imminent. Possibly worse than being included in rumors, though, was that a trade was not completed and those Lakers included in talks, namely Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram, were left to finish out a season with the purple and gold.
A commonly-held belief amongst fans was that James saw the young Lakers not as future teammates but as trade assets. Madsen shot down that belief in his interview but also noted that the young Lakers needed to move past the trade rumors.
“I don’t believe that LeBron was scheming to get certain people out of there. I don’t. I don’t believe that that’s what happened. But of course there were efforts made to get AD, and as part of the business side of this profession, different names were discussed. But apart from a five- or 10-day period when that was happening, I think that ultimately guys have to get over it. Guys have to get over it because it’s a reality of this profession.”
Madsen was also quite complimentary of the young former Lakers turned Pelicans as well. Having served as an assistant with the Lakers from 2013 through 2019, Madsen was involved in drafting and developing each of the three players in Los Angeles.
“That trade was really a win-win trade. Lonzo Ball is just a great talent and he’s a tremendous human being. Brandon Ingram, both those guys are young stars. Ingram is a talent, Lonzo is a talent, and you put Zion out there and it’s a fun, young team to watch.”
The former Lakers have excelled in New Orleans this season, helping the Pelicans to the brink of the playoffs heading into the bubble. As Madsen noted, it was a win-win as the Lakers are atop the Western Conference with Davis as well.
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