It is no solution that the Lakers are a supporter-most loved NBA group. In spite of the team’s struggles above the past several seasons, it has consistently dominated headlines and uncovered alone on the countrywide tv timetable time and all over again. This offseason, the staff is having praise for retaining key contributors Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell.
Just one ESPN writer, however, is calling for lovers to pump the brakes. While appearing on Get Up Monday morning, Tim Bontemps bluntly assessed Los Angeles’s offseason, and ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst also quieted the idea that the Lakers experienced created a big splash.
“The Lakers didn’t materially get superior,” Bontemps explained. “… To me, the Lakers did not insert any person that materially moved the needle closer [to an NBA championship].”
“The Lakers didn’t materially get better. … Anyone is acting like they had the greatest offseason of all time.”
—@TimBontemps pic.twitter.com/a4dA9L0dMJ
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 3, 2023
Los Angeles shed Dennis Schröder to the Raptors in totally free agency but replaced him with previous Heat guard Gabe Vincent. The Lakers also included forwards Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish and re-signed ahead Rui Hachimura. Bontemps went as considerably as to say that Vincent is “essentially the same” as Schröder, implying the move wasn’t an enhance.
“Like Brian said, everyone’s performing like they had the best offseason of all time,” Bontemps ongoing. “I’m chatting about championship equity. I just do not assume they obtained nearer to that.”
The Lakers started off the 2022–23 year 2–10, but thanks to quite a few moves at the trade deadline, they rallied to end the season with a 43–39 record. They went on to conquer the No. 2-seed Grizzlies and reigning winner Warriors to attain the Western Meeting finals, but they ended up swept in that series by the eventual-winner Nuggets.
It’s fair to say the Lakers will be considered a stable playoff contender in the uber-aggressive Western Convention, but Bontemps doesn’t see them remaining any improved this forthcoming period.
