Plenty of Los Angeles Lakers fans were disappointed their team didn’t make any moves prior to this season’s trade deadline. There were many rumors that it was going after players such as former All-Star guard Dejounte Murray and two-way wing Bruce Brown, but nothing happened.
General manager Rob Pelinka, in his post-deadline comments, made an analogy to not being able to buy a house that’s not for sale. Teams were reportedly asking the Lakers to attach a future first-round draft pick in addition to a player such as D’Angelo Russell or Austin Reaves to receive a good player such as Murray or Brown.
Lakers fans have felt for some time that the team is ordered to give up more in a potential trade than other squads are required to for the same players. This has been referred to as the so-called “Lakers tax,” and some fans feel it has to do with the supposed jealousy and even hate that other teams have for the Purple and Gold.
Reportedly, Lakers officials felt the same way prior to this season’s deadline.
Via The Athletic:
“In conversations with rival teams, the Lakers, according to team sources, sensed something of a ‘Lakers tax,’ with Los Angeles believing it was asked to pay more for role players in potential deals than other suitors,” wrote Jovan Buha. “The Lakers were surprised by some of the final prices quoted for certain players. Several of the Lakers’ top targets — Murray, Toronto’s Bruce Brown Jr., Brooklyn’s Dorian Finney-Smith, Washington’s Tyus Jones and Chicago’s duo of Alex Caruso and Andre Drummond — didn’t move at the deadline, a sign to Los Angeles that demands were out of control.”
On the other hand, L.A. landed Spencer Dinwiddie, a former Sixth Man of the Year candidate, from the buyout market on Saturday. Dinwiddie is a flawed player, but the 6-foot-5 guard should be able to give the team ball-handling, dribble penetration and perhaps an occasional spot-up shooter.
It now appears the Lakers are looking to make a big move this summer, which may have been another reason it passed on making a less significant move prior to the deadline.
