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Another Off-Season of Change in LA

Off-seasons of change have become expected in Laker-Land as the years have gone on.

First, it was drafting Cade, then acquiring Jalen Green, a young duo who were sold to the Laker faithful as the front court of the future. Then, Green and several other pieces were shipped out two off seasons ago to bring in a strong, win-now nucleus of players that included Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant, and Andre Drummond to complement the services of Cade Cunningham. After falling short in the NSL finals, the group knew they needed to retool once more.

After entering into last offseason with NSL superstars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant under contract, the team had one goal in mind: get younger. The expectation was that the Lakers would take a step back from contention to build something more sustainable, but halfway through the season they were streaking back up the standings, ultimately finishing the season as the 2^nd seed out West. Last off-season was perhaps the most massive shift of them all. Out went Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and begrudgingly Andre Drummond, after he spurned the Lakers offer to join the Cavaliers. In came Amen Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, Chet Holmgren, and Walker Kessler, once again, to complement the Lakers longtime star, and budding lead guard Cade Cunningham. The Lakers did indeed end up taking a step back. They lost in the second round of the playoffs to the eventual Western Conference Champion Spurs, just 1 year removed from playing in the NSL finals. And back to the drawing board they went…

Of all of the players the Lakers have traded during GM Justin’s time at the helm, no move came more shocking than the one they pulled off this offseason. Surely, if there was 1 untouchable, it was Cade, the hometown kid. The kid who went from shooting 42% in his rookie year, who led the team in scoring and assists, who became the steadying force of the team over the last 3 years. Even with all of the star power the Lakers boasted last year, Cade was the best player each time the team stepped on the court. It was rumored that GM Justin even felt that Cade was like a son to him, truly the crown jewel of his time at the helm of the Lakers. And then…he was gone.

Out went Cade Cunningham, Chet Holmgren, Walker Kessler, and a late first round pick, and in…from the UFO ship he touched down in LA on, came Victor Wembanyama. A true freak of nature, standing at 7’4, Wembanyama will anchor Lakers teams for many years to come. He is one of the few players who can anchor a team on both ends of the court, and in the end, the prospect of keeping Wembanyama in the purple and gold through the aliens prime, was too much to pass up.

Many Lakers fans are excited about the potential future of the franchise. Some believe Wemby will have a real shot to match the records of former Lakers greats, which brought multiple titles to Los Angeles. But some are admittedly sad about what has transpired.

The prodigal son, Cade Cunningham will likely never play for the Lakers again. The man who changed the tide for the Lakers. The man who joined the team as they came off a season as the worst team in the NSL, who proceeded to finish dead last in the league once again at the culmination of his rookie season. Cade saw it all, the bottom of the cellar, the build, multiple builds, to contention, and for a brief period of time, there was real belief in 2024, that Cade Cunningham might lead the Lakers back to the promise land. While many fans will regret the move that saw the Lakers send Cade out of town(hopefully only in the short term), GM Justin mentioned only one regret. “It’s a real shame that we couldn’t make him an NSL champion. I fear he might never have a better chance than we had 2 seasons ago, and we just couldn’t get it done.”

There is only 1 appropriate way to finish this article, and it has nothing to do with the incoming Wembanyama, regardless of the excitement the organization and its fans have shown for his arrival.

Cade, thank you for everything you did for the franchise. When no one believed in you, we did. You will always have a place in Laker Land.

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		Comments (2)
laddas 07/28 10:49 pm	QN, Qtr. OFF, #1
jmac 07/28 07:39 pm	Nice article!