The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2021-22 NBA season with high hopes and aspirations of lifting a title when it was all said and done.
Fast forward 45 games: The Lakers have a 22-23 record and currently sit as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
Injuries and setbacks due to health and safety protocols have definitely been a factor, but the team’s inconsistent energy and effort are easily the bigger concern.
The recent three-game stretch for Los Angeles highlights it: a 37-point loss to the Denver Nuggets, a gritty win against the top-seeded Utah Jazz and a fourth-quarter collapse against the lowly Indiana Pacers.
Even with a healthy Anthony Davis in the mix, this Lakers squad, as it stands, is not a championship-caliber team. But will the franchise make any trades? Let’s make the case for trading players where moving on makes sense:
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