LeBron James’ old Cleveland running mates aren’t sold on the Lakers’ latest makeover.
Los Angeles sat out the first night of free agency, then came alive on Wednesday with a string of moves that brought Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton into the fold. On the surface, it looked like a busy and aggressive haul. On the Road Trippin’ Show, though, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert, and Richard Jefferson weren’t exactly dazzled.
Jefferson framed the Lakers’ additions by pointing back to Luka Doncic’s run to the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks. In his view, the new Lakers pieces don’t stack up to what that Mavericks team had.
“When Luka [Doncic] went to the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks, every one of those players right there would be coming off the bench for that Mavericks team,” Jefferson said. “So, that gives you context of where the Lakers are. None of those players would be starters on that Dallas Mavericks Luka Finals team.
“Collin Sexton would come off the bench,” Jefferson said. “Quentin Grimes would. Even Walker Kessler would not start over [Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II]… That shows you kind of how, I won’t say far away they are, but where they are.”
Shumpert went even further, saying the Lakers are far away from where they want to be. Frye wasn’t impressed by the fit, either, arguing the team added depth more than real answers.
“They don’t address anything that the Lakers actually need other than bodies,” Frye said. “They need athleticism, grit, grind… Walker Kessler is not better than Donovan Clingan.”
That’s a sharp contrast from how Los Angeles is treating Kessler. The Lakers landed the 24-year-0ld from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade that cost two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps, then handed him a four-year, $130 million contract. The organization clearly sees him as a major piece.
Jefferson, Frye, and Shumpert don’t sound nearly as convinced.
Shumpert’s issue went beyond basketball fit and into image. He said the group doesn’t feel like the Lakers he remembers.
“You know what’s bothering me?” Shumpert said.
“I thought this was the Lakers. Where is the personalities?
… This is going to be a boring a** team, though.”
Frye took the same line a step further, calling them the Los Angeles Utahs. He also said, “This team’s GPA is definitely going to win.”
The implication, as noted on the show, was that the group is too White, a topic ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has also raised in discussing the Lakers having their three best players all be White.
Still, the only thing that ultimately matters is what happens on the floor. The Lakers won’t be treated like title favorites next season, but with Kessler, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves leading the way, they should still be a strong team.
James would have raised the ceiling, but he has already moved on from the partnership after eight seasons. His agent, Rich Paul, said James is looking for complete happiness, and for whatever reason, he wasn’t going to find it by staying put. Where he goes next remains the next big question.
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