Decisions the Lakers Should Already Regret from the Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Lakers got plenty busy at the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

During trade season, they brought back five new players in three different deals.

It was a productive stretch for the front office, but was it perfect? In a word: nope. That's not a deal-breaker by any stretch, but the Lakers might already have some regrets from how everything went down.

Not Pushing Harder for Kyrie Irving

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, sits on the bench with D'Angelo Russell, second from left, Jarred Vanderbilt, second from right, and Malik Beasley during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Lakers added a handful of helpful role players around the deadline, but they never nabbed a star. That's fine theoretically, but they had a shot of adding not merely an eight-time All-Star, but an eight-time All-Star who won a title with LeBron James.

Kyrie Irving is significantly better than anyone L.A. brought back. He's also unsigned after this season and attached to all kinds of off-court questions, so there would've been risk, but there are basketball reasons to wonder if the reward would have been worth it.

The fact that the 30-year-old is equally potent with or without the ball would have made him a snug fit alongside James and Anthony Davis.

"I can't sit here and say I'm not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent, but [also] someone that I had great chemistry with, and know I got great chemistry with on the floor, that can help you win championships, in my mind, in my eyes," James told ESPN's Michael Wilbon.

The Lakers chased Irving—hard.

L.A. put both its 2027 and 2029 first-round picks on the table but would not deal Austin Reaves or Max Christie without getting Irving to agree to a two-year contract extension, per The Athletic's Jovan Buha.

That's a sensible stance, but if the Lakers saw Irving as enough of a difference-maker to part with both picks, they might second-guess treating Reaves and Christie as deal-breakers.

Neglecting the Point-of-Attack Defense

Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 13: DAngelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 13, 2023 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Lakers made a concerted effort to beef up their offensive attack at the deadline.

D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba immediately addressed a glaring need for shooting. Rui Hachimura gave L.A. another off-the-dribble scoring threat. Jarred Vanderbilt added close-range finishing and offensive rebounding.

L.A. needed all of that help, but it also could have used more stoppers, particularly on the perimeter. The Lakers not only failed to them, it might have gotten worse coming out of the deadline.

Russell is a sieve. Beasley is best hidden on that end. Hachimura is usually indifferent to defense. The Lakers have a few paint protectors behind them, but the bigs can only plug so many leaks.

Passing Up the Pacers' Offer Last Summer

A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 2: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers go up for a jump ball during the game on February 2, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)

Remember the oft-discussed deal-that-wasn't between the Lakers and Indiana Pacers last summer? The one that would have sent Westbrook and the two first-round picks to Indy for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield?

Are we sure the Lakers were wise for waiting to do these deals instead?

Sure, they only had to give up one first (and even managed to put top-four protection on it—the best move of L.A.'s trade season), but the lower trade cost also meant a lesser trade return.

Turner's combination of shot-blocking and three-point shooting packs a heavier two-way punch than anything the Lakers landed at the deadline. Hield might be the best shooter in the league not named Stephen Curry; L.A. found some lasers, but it could have done better on that front, too.