Done Deal : Los Angeles Lakers strike agreement with Chicago Bulls over $million center Nikola Vucevic

 

There’s no denying that the Lakers’ play in a very demanding environment. As if competing in the highly talented and extremely competitive Western Conference weren’t enough of a challenge, both the Lakers’ players and organization draw immense scrutiny from their fan base. Former guard Patrick Beverley claims the franchise’s tendency to criticize its own players often diminishes their trade value across the league.

 

Beverley, who spent the better part of the 2022-23 season with Los Angeles, addressed this issue on his show following the recent D’Angelo Russell trade: “They talk so bad about their players that they actually decrease their value… When a trade comes, ain’t nobody just giving you anything. No one’s trying to help the Los Angeles Lakers.”

 

Unfortunately, the heightened criticism placed on the Lakers extends beyond players and to the coaching staff, as well. First-year head coach JJ Redick – the latest leader tasked with managing the franchise’s championship expectations – is often subjected to immense judgment by both the media and Lakers’ fans.

 

 

Their status as one of the NBA’s most historic franchises (winning 17 NBA championships) – coupled with their tendency to be labeled a “Hollywood” team – means that any player that they acquire will be surrounded by a constant media circus, creating a unique kind of pressure for the Lakers’ roster. Because every move faces such intense scrutiny, Beverley argues this dynamic is responsible for creating a self-defeating cycle. He believes that when Lakers fans overly criticize struggling players, it affects their perceived value league-wide:

 

“A guy shoots bad, and they crush guys, they decrease their value… He’s a second-rounder for every other team, but to the Lakers, he’s two first rounds.” As the Lakers continue to pursue championship contention through trades – such as the recent Dorian Finney-Smith acquisition – Beverley’s comments should not be taken lightly. The intense spotlight placed on the Franchise may complicate their ability to make deals. Success is a double-edged sword, playing for the Lakers can either elevate a player’s status or muddy their reputation for years to come.