NBA: Grading every team’s 2022 offseason through the draft, free agency

Los Angeles Lakers

Notable moves: Signed Thomas Bryant and Lonnie Walker IV

At least for now, I can’t give the Los Angeles Lakers a passing grade for the offseason thus far. They did well by getting somewhat younger with the Lonnie Walker and Thomas Bryant signings, but I still can’t believe that Russell Westbrook is still on the roster.

It’s clear as day that he was a net negative for the Lakers last season and that this team would be better if he wasn’t on the roster. Nevertheless, the Lakers don’t seem too desperate to trade him just yet. And if he’s still on the roster now, there’s a good chance that he’s still going to be on the roster when training camp opens.

And that has the potential to be a disaster. If the Lakers don’t make another move this offseason, there’s no question that this will end up being a failure of a summer for the franchise. The only reason why I didn’t give them an “F” yet is that there’s still time for them to make a move.

Grade: D