Revolutionizing the Lakers: 3 Trade Proposals to Break Up the Big Three and Improve Defense
The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a pivotal summer of decision-making, and their future hinges on a question that Jeanie Buss and the fanbase must ponder: who should run the team's operations—Rob Pelinka as an agent or as an executive? Pelinka's extensive ties to Wasserman Media Group, the agency he used to run, have helped propel the Lakers to the brink of NBA greatness. Before the season, the Lakers president acquired Anthony Davis, a former top-earning client of Pelinka when he was an agent. The Lakers' loyalty to Wasserman has been a strong undercurrent in the NBA landscape, with the team spending more money on one player agency than any other team this season, funneling nearly $120 million to Wasserman clients Davis, LeBron James, and Russell Westbrook. However, the Lakers' Big Three lineup—comprising James, Davis, and Westbrook—was exposed against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Lakers' defense was one of the worst in the playoffs, and their starting lineup hemorrhaged 112.3 points per 100 possessions to the Celtics. The Lakers' Big Three made a collective $100 million this season, making it one of the most expensive units in the league. The root of the problem is that Westbrook is a defensive liability. To get to the Finals, a team can cover up one of those defensive liabilities, but it's almost impossible to hide both. The Lakers will have to think long and hard about breaking up their Big Three this summer. Here are three trade proposals to consider:
