The 2022-23 season has been difficult for the Los Angeles Lakers to say the least. With a season like this one, it is important to look to the future, but it is also important to know how they got to this point. This is how the Anthony Davis trade is coming back to haunt the Lakers.
On June 15, 2019, Adrian Wojnarowski announced the blockbuster trade between the Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans. The trade would send Anthony Davis to the Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three future first round picks.
At the time, Ball, Ingram and Hart were thought to be the future of the Lakers, alongside Kyle Kuzma. All four of the Lakers young core have gone on to play for other teams, and put up career numbers.
The Lakers went on to win the 2020 NBA championship But, in the years following, they have lacked a young core of players and shooting ability.
The former number two draft pick found immediate success during his time with New Orleans. Unfortunately for Ball, multiple knee injuries have caused his playing ability and time to dwindle.
In September 2021, Ball was traded to the Chicago Bull as part of a multiple team deal with the Pelicans, Bulls and Hornets. He has yet to play this season, due to a left meniscus tear which he initially had surgically repaired on January 14. On September 21, The Bulls announced he would undergo arthroscopic knee surgery to fix lingering discomfort for the initial surgery.
Brandon Ingram is the only one of the three currently playing for the New Orlean Pelicans. Ingram also found quick success in New Orleans. In 2020 he was selected to his first NBA All-Star game and was voted the NBA most improved player of the year.
Ingram has also grown into his role as one of the team’s leaders, while also posting career high numbers. From 2019-21 he averaged 23.8 points per game and played 33.9 and 34.3 minutes per game respectively.
Josh Hart is currently playing for the Portland Trail Blazers after the Pelicans traded him in February of 2022. Like his former teammate, Hart found immediate success in New Orleans and now even more in Portland.
Last year Hart played in just 13 games, but averaged 19.9 points, and 8.7 rebounds per game.
On top of losing the young core of the team, the Lakers have also lost multiple first round picks for the future. The Lakers biggest hope, currently, is to trade some of their current players for better shooting.
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