Going into an extremely important off-season, the Lakers front office has been challenged by Kobe Bryant to make some immediate changes. While General Manager Mitch Kupchak continues to stress patience in the rebuild, there are some who wonder if the Lakers can make the necessary moves to improve the team.
With the recent acquisitions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash not bringing the expected results, Kupchak and Jim Buss have been under fire from the media and fans.
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One person who doesn’t agree with the criticisms is Kenny Smith of TNT’s ‘Inside The NBA.’ Smith appeared on ESPN LA 710 and defended the Lakers front office for the moves they have made:
Honestly, I don’t think the Lakers made bad moves in the last couple of years […] you trade for Dwight Howard, the best center in the league arguably at that time [and] it just doesn’t work out […] And Mike D’Antoni was probably the second best coach available other than Phil Jackson, so I don’t think they made bad moves, I just don’t think they worked out the way they wanted them to.
Smith makes very good points about the Lakers making trades that seemed like excellent deals at the time.
The Howard trade, coupled with the trade for Steve Nash, who was considered one of the league’s top point guards, was expected to bring another championship to Los Angeles. However, the team never gelled and Nash hasn’t been able to stay healthy.
Some moves just don’t work out the way they were expected to, but the Lakers have always been able to make some excellent trades to get back in title contention.
There is no reason to believe that won’t be the case again this time.
(H/T Lakerholicz.com)
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