The entire reason we're paying him $25+ million annually to take up space on this roster right now is because he was expected to be the 1st option and leader of the team while the rookies and Laker kids developed. The fact that he was already handily eclipsed in that leader/best player role he was supposed to assume by Ingram and then Zion within the first 1-2 weeks of them playing while he shyt the bed completely at the start of the season and now in the bubble too just shows how foolish the FO was for keeping him past the deadline. His entire and only purpose this season was to lead us to wins in meaningful playoff contention games as opposed to trading him to a playoff contender and continue tanking shamelessly for more picks. Just cause he's failed to do so doesn't change that retroactively.
We payed him 25 mill when he was a injuried 3rd option. He was never paid to be a first option. He’s with us cause the team didn’t want to start a culture of losing with a roster of all young guys. Same reason we went got jj and have favors. Needed some vets to help the young guys.
It’s like saying if Greek left the bucks that they would be expect Middleton to be the first option
no he’s just a very talented player and 25 mill a year around the range of money that the market pays for his level of play now. Before the salaries jumped he was over paid but joe contracts work now he’s not
and pels couldn’t trade him with ad for obvious cap reasons and that lakers had no other assets over value and nobody else in the league don’t seem to be offering much. He still has years on his deal and is a valuable player and not crying about leaving.
if you find a good deal yea Ofcourse move him, but ain’t really much good deals out there