Report: Lakers' Players Don't See Standing Pat At Deadline As Viable Option
The Los Angeles Lakers have privately acknowledged that they need to shake up the roster at the trade deadline, sources tell Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
The Lakers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday by a final score of 131-116. Though the game was competitive in the fourth quarter, the Bucks were up by as many as 30 points.
"It tells me we ain't on their level," LeBron James said flatly when asked if the loss revealed anything about where the Lakers were at. "I mean, I could have told you that before the game."
The Lakers also benched Russell Westbrook late in the game for the second straight game and third time this season. The Lakers outscored Milwaukee 37-28 after Westbrook was subbed out in the third quarter and didn't return. The Lakers cut Milwaukee's lead to 10 at one point.
When Frank Vogel conceded the game and removed James and Anthony Davis from the floor, Westbrook greeted the pair with a big smile on his face with pats on their shoulders and taps on the back of their hands. James and Davis made minimal eye contact with Westbrook.
James was asked about the exchange.
"Listen, I want to help AD, I want to help Russ. AD wants to help me, help Russ, and Russ wants to help us," James said. "Obviously, lately, Russ hasn't felt like he had an opportunity or with the opportunities he's been given he hasn't helped us as much as he would like. We haven't done a great job of helping him."
Standing pat is not seen as a viable option by players on the Lakers, sources told ESPN.
Sources add that James had a hand in the construction of the roster in the offseason on everything from the Westbrook trade to free agent signings. Rob Pelinka will again collaborate with James leading to the deadline.
"There's still a lot of basketball to be played," James said shortly before finishing his joint news conference with Davis and leaving the arena with the guy he paired with to win a championship about 16 months ago. "There's still an opportunity for us to make a mark on this season, but it's going to take some, it's going to take a lot. It's going to take a lot. But nothing is worth having if it's not worth working for."
Added Davis: "I don't think we've given up on this. I know we haven't. I don't think -- I know we haven't. Like Bron said, we got a lot of basketball left. We can turn this around, but it's going to take a lot of work. To do it, it's going to take us as a team, collectively to do so. We got to buy in. We just got to, everyone go out there and play for each other. Play hard. Play selfless. And try to turn this around before it gets really bad."
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, Khareem Sudlow
