Something curious is happening with the Lakers.
asserted
Something → happen → Lakers
They’re the second-winningest franchise in the NBA with 17 championships.
asserted
They → ’re → championships
They have a top-four player in the league in Luka Dončić.
asserted
They → have → Dončić
They’re located in one of the premier cities in the league in Los Angeles.
asserted
They → locate → Angeles
But a curious pattern has repeated itself this offseason.
asserted
pattern → repeat → itself
The league’s top available players didn’t show interest in Los Angeles.
asserted
players → show → Angeles
After eight years with the Lakers, LeBron James chose to leave in free agency.
asserted
James → choose → agency
Jonathan Kuminga took his talents to Minnesota.
asserted
Kuminga → take → Minnesota
Klay Thompson decided to go to Miami.
asserted
Thompson → decide → Miami
Bruce Brown decided to sign with the Knicks.
asserted
Brown → decide → Knicks
The Lakers weren’t at the top of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s list of top destinations when it became clear the Bucks were going to trade him.
asserted
Bucks → become → him
Peyton Watson, who was a restricted free agent, opted for a sign-and-trade deal with the Cavaliers, where he could earn much more money than with the Lakers.
uncertain
he → restrict → Lakers
Sure, the Lakers were hamstrung monetarily after re-signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $180 million deal, the richest contract for a player who went undrafted in NBA history.
asserted
who → hamstring → history
And they emptied their treasure trove for Walker Kessler, whom they acquired via a sign-and-trade from Utah on a four-year, $130 million deal, including giving up first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
asserted
they → empty → 2028
They also largely emptied their pockets on Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams and Jaden Hardy.
asserted
They → empty → Sexton
But money only tells part of the story.
asserted
money → tell → story
James chose to sign a veteran-minimum deal with the 76ers (two years, $8 million) instead of potentially earning much more in Los Angeles, with some estimates placing him in the ballpark of earning $25 million per year with the Lakers after single-handedly leading them past the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.
asserted
estimates → choose → playoffs
Kuminga opted to sign a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Timberwolves even though the Lakers had initially offered him a two-year deal worth $20 million.
asserted
Lakers → opt → deal
Thompson, who went to high school in Southern California, grew up a Lakers fan and whose father is a radio analyst for the Lakers, chose to sign with the Heat on a two-year, $13 million deal.
asserted
father → go → deal
Most recently, Brown signed an Exhibit 9 training camp contract with the Knicks.
asserted
Brown → sign → Knicks
Sure, the Lakers have 16 players on standard guaranteed contracts, as well as three two-way contracts.
asserted
Lakers → have → contracts
They’re going to need to shed players before Opening Night.
asserted
They → go → Night
Why aren’t players clamoring to join the Lakers, as they have in past seasons?
asserted
they → clamor → seasons
Imagine him playing alongside Dončić.
asserted
him → imagine → Dončić
Why did Kuminga take less money to join the Timberwolves?
asserted
Kuminga → take → Timberwolves
His athleticism and perimeter defense could’ve really helped the Lakers.
uncertain
athleticism → help → Lakers
What’s happening here?
asserted
What → happen → ?
As for James, he clearly felt undervalued by the Lakers toward the end of his tenure with the team
asserted
he → undervalue → team
He also felt as though he had his best chance to win his fifth ring in Philly.
asserted
he → feel → Philly
Still, his decision to leave Los Angeles and move across the country from his family sent shockwaves throughout the NBA.
asserted
decision → leave → NBA
Nearly every team clamored to acquire the 41-year-old — who’s arguably the greatest player of all time — at a bargain price.
asserted
who → clamor → price
It all makes you wonder …
Did the Lakers’ treatment of James at the end of his career give other players’ pause, especially considering the team’s past history of revering their superstars?
asserted
treatment → make → superstars
Did the team’s transition from James to Dončić make other players want to see how things play out before buying in?
asserted
things → make → Dončić
Did the Lakers being sold twice in 14 months make other players feel iffy about coming to Los Angeles?
asserted
players → sell → Angeles
Did the Buss family drama impact things?
asserted
drama → impact → things
Maybe players simply wanted to join an organization where they stood to make more money down the line.
asserted
they → want → line
Maybe they just didn’t feel comfortable joining the Lakers, who are clearly undergoing multiple major transitions.
asserted
who → feel → transitions
Either way, it makes sense that eyebrows are raised a bit here.
asserted
eyebrows → make → sense
But this summer told a different story.
asserted
summer → tell → story
The Aporia
