Lonzo Ball reflects on what the Lakers could have done differently originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After Kobe Bryant retired, the Los Angeles Lakers entered a difficult stretch, missing the playoffs for several seasons and relying on the draft to rebuild their roster. During that period, the franchise accumulated an impressive group of young talent, selecting Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball with high lottery picks. They also found valuable contributors later in drafts, including Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart and Larry Nance Jr.
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Despite assembling that promising core, the Lakers ultimately shifted their focus toward acquiring an established superstar. That decision materialized in 2019, when Los Angeles traded for New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis. The deal required the Lakers to send out three first-round picks, along with Ingram, Ball and Hart — a move that brought immediate championship expectations.
On a recent episode of his podcast Ball in the Family, Ball reflected on the franchise’s decision to move on from its young foundation. He said he believed the Lakers could have built a long-term winner by keeping the group together, though he acknowledged that the trade worked out for the organization. Ball also expressed that he felt he and Russell, both ball-dominant guards, could have thrived alongside each other.
While Ball wondered about what could have been, the Lakers’ strategy aligned with the realities of a major market franchise. Big-market teams often prioritize proven superstars over developmental timelines, confident they can lure additional star power through free agency. That approach paid off quickly: pairing LeBron James and Davis led to the 2020 NBA title inside the Orlando bubble.
Today, James remains with the Lakers, and the franchise has continued its aggressive team-building philosophy. Davis was later part of a blockbuster deal that brought Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, a move widely viewed as one of the most lopsided trades in league history.
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