After coming off a championship season, the Los Angeles Lakers fell off hard, having a disappointing season. This disappointment included: not winning their Western Pacific Division, going to the playoffs as the 7th seed, and finally losing in the first round to the Phoenix Suns.

Going into the last offseason, the Lakers needed to do something. And they did!! The Lakers GM, Rob Pelinka pulled off a major trade for 9x NBA All-Star, NBA MVP, 2x Scoring Champion, 3x Assist Leader, 2x All-NBA First Team Russell Westbrook. They also received a 2024 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. To receive Wsetbrook, they traded away Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and a 2021 first-round pick.

Westbrook will be the all-star point guard the Lakers have needed for the longest time.  Westbrook is a point guard that can distribute the ball to key players and find weaknesses in an opposing team’s defenses. He’s a slasher in the paint and unlike other point guards, he will get rebounds and he is not afraid of contact.

That wasn’t the only star player they recruited in free agency as the Lakers also signed (F) Carmelo Anthony, (C) DeAndre Jordan, (G) Kendrick Nunn, and (G/F) Kent Bazemore. Lakers fans might also see some familiar faces back in the purple and gold uniform. The Lakers are bringing back (C) Dwight Howard, (G) Rajon Rondo, (F) Trevor Ariza, and (G/F) Wayne Ellington.

Los Angeles received an “A-” grade for their free agency moves according to CBS sports. The Lakers basically swapped out their entire roster, highlighted by Westbrook. James, Davis, and Horton-Tucker are the only three players returning from last year’s team. While it could lead to postseason issues, these additions give the Lakers a nuclear ball of energy to get them through the regular season and take some of the play-making pressure off of an aging LeBron James.

The Lakers are looking for revenge and ready to bring the championship trophy back home. With all the additions to the roster, they are heavy favorites to win the Western Conference. One projected starting lineup for the Lakers is:

• Russell Westbrook (PG)
• Wayne Ellington (SG)
• LeBron James (SF)
• Anthony Davis (PF)
• Dwight Howard (C)

Another potential lineup could be:

• Russell Westbrook (PG)
• Wayne Ellington (SG)
• Talen Horton-Tucker (SF)
• LeBron James (PF)
• Anthony Davis (C)