A new report from ESPN’s Zach Kram listed the “biggest mistake” made by each of the 30 NBA franchises since the start of the year 2020. When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers, the report did not list the infamous Russell Westbrook trade as the biggest blunder by the Rob Pelinka-led front office.
Instead, Kram felt the Lakers erred by losing their 3-and-D players, such as Danny Green and Alex Caruso, a year after winning the NBA title in 2020, which preceded the disastrous Westbrook trade in July 2021.
“The Lakers won the 2020 championship with a simple formula: LeBron James and Anthony Davis plus 3-and-D role players equals success,” wrote Kram. “But they forgot the old maxim “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and exchanged 3-and-D wings for ball handlers in their quest to win again.”
The report then reviewed the list of moves made by the Lakers’ front office following their 2020 NBA title win. First, they moved Danny Green and a late first-round pick (which became Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels) for Dennis Schroder. The following season, they lowballed Caruso in free agency, leading to the defensive ace signing with the Bulls. Shortly thereafter, they traded Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — two other key pieces from the 2020 team — for an aging Westbrook.
Losing Title Contender Status
“Each of those moves was worse than the last, with Westbrook in particular failing to fit into the Lakers’ James-centric ecosystem,” wrote Kram.
“They missed the playoffs in Westbrook’s first season with the team and traded him — along with a future first-round pick — midway through the second season. But the overall effects of the front office’s misguided change in approach are clear: The Lakers won four playoff series in 2020, but they’ve won just two total playoff series in the five seasons since.”
As Kram noted, the Lakers continue to feel the after-effects of the Westbrook trade, which stripped them of draft assets and cap flexibility for years.
According to Lakers beat writer Anthony Irwin, the Lakers front office still regrets the Westbrook trade due to its far-reaching effects on future transactions.
Still Reeling from Westbrook Trade
“Well, on a macro level, the Lakers organization is plagued still by the fallout from that failed Russell Westbrook trade,” Irwin wrote in August 2024.
“As an organization, it’s painfully aware that another misstep of that magnitude would absolutely close their title window. It would also force Jeanie Buss’ hand in making structural changes she absolutely does not want to make. The result is a franchise paralyzed on every major decision.”
The decision to let Caruso walk sparked significant criticism in 2021, but resurfaced in 2025 when the defensive specialist captured his second NBA title with the Thunder.
As Caruso helped the Thuneer win the NBA title, several analysts and fans blasted the Lakers for not locking him up for the long haul when they had the chance.
Lakers Nation’s Trevor Lane wrote, “The Lakers letting Alex Caruso walk made no sense when it happened and has only looked worse as time has gone by.”
Lakers beat writer Harrison Faigen highlighted Caruso’s extraordinary defense on Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic in the Thunder’s playoff victory against the Nuggets.
“Caruso becoming a Jokic stopper is one final knife to the heart for Lakers fans,” he wrote.
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