It seems like only yesterday that LeBron James departed Cleveland for the second time to join the Los Angeles Laker. As he continues to exhibit outstanding basketball skills at the age of 39, one must acknowledge his remarkable longevity.

However, once he decides to retire, we will likely reflect on his time in Los Angeles as a period of untapped potential.

The Lakers’ failings have nothing to do with the King’s performance. Instead, the front office’s mismanagement of the roster potentially squandered multiple championship opportunities.

While James’ stint with the purple and gold was not a complete failure, it is evident from the 2020 championship victory that the team had the capacity for success.

The team’s performance in the Bubble was exceptional, securing the top seed in the Western Conference and registering only five losses on their way to claiming the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Going into the subsequent preseason, they were widely expected to defend their title.

Regrettably, the championship victory is now almost five years old, and the franchise has not returned to the grand stage. So, what contributed to the lack of subsequent success over the last four seasons?

Following a shortened 2020 offseason, the Lakers appeared poised for back-to-back triumphs. They started with a 21-6 record, showcasing the best defense in the league. However, injuries to Davis and James resulted in a drop in the team’s standing. Fortunately, the duo regained their health just in time, concluding the regular season with five consecutive wins.

After prevailing over Golden State in the Play-In Tournament, L.A. found themselves leading the eventual Western Conference champions, Phoenix, by 2-1. However, Davis got injured, and the Suns clinched the series in six games.

If history were to pinpoint when the Lakers’ opportunity for a title began to diminish, the 2021 offseason would be the obvious candidate.

During that summer, the Lakers acted impulsively. Following Davis’ injury, the front office was displeased with the team’s lack of competitiveness in the postseason. Consequently, they sought to make a high-profile acquisition to provide better support during times of injury.

General manager Rob Pelinka‘s primary objective was to upgrade from Kyle Kuzma, who failed to step up adequately in Davis’ absence, leaving a bitter taste in the fans’ mouths.

According to sources, the Washington Wizards have agreed to trade Russell Westbrook, along with a 2024 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and the No. 22 pick.

The Washington Wizards have agreed to trade Russell Westbrook, 2024 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and No. 22 tonight, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2021

Reportedly, the Lakers had deals in place for other prominent players, but succumbed to pressure from James, resulting in the acquisition of Westbrook.

Nevertheless, as the general manager and vice president of basketball operations, Pelinka has the final say in trade matters and should have recognized that Westbrook was an unsuitable fit with the duo, particularly in terms of floor spacing.

Westbrook’s tenure with the Lakers was disastrous, as evidenced by the team’s 56-74 record during his time with them. While the duo’s absence certainly played a part, Westbrook’s ineffectiveness as a three-point shooter had a significantly negative impact. Failing to make the postseason in 2022 was a stark contrast to their previous dominance in the conference just two seasons earlier.

Over the past year, the organization has expended all available resources to rectify the Westbrook trade. At the 2023 deadline, they traded Westbrook to salvage the season in a three-team deal.

Pelinka has made efforts to rebuild a suitable supporting cast around the duo, but has consistently overlooked the absence of players specialized in three-point shooting and defense for several years.

Acquiring talents like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who possesses the ability to consistently knock down threes and guard the point of attack, is essential for winning championships and maximizing success around Davis and James.

The presence of a player like Alex Caruso comes at a cost, but the front office has been left with limited resources and low-end draft picks to replace that skill set. Consequently, the defense has suffered significantly.

This season’s trade deadline provided an opportunity for the organization to secure a quality three-and-D starter. The roster lacks players who can either shoot or defend for 30 minutes per game. With Jarred Vanderbilt’s health in question, the team is ill-equipped to contain perimeter threats posed by opponents.

Surprisingly, the Lakers opted to stay put. Pelinka deemed any potential move at the deadline not worth sacrificing the limited assets at their disposal. Instead, the organization intends to pursue a star player via trade during the offseason.

League sources indicate that the likely course of action for the Los Angeles Lakers is to maintain their current roster at the trade deadline and aim to acquire another star player in the offseason, armed with three first-round picks.

The probable path for Los Angeles Lakers is standing pat at trade deadline with potential to acquire another star player in the offseason when armed with three first-round picks, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 8, 2024

While the Lakers did not entirely give up on the season, any improvements to be made in the forthcoming offseason may not have as significant an impact as Pelinka believes. James and Davis cannot afford to wait until next season.

As James approaches 40 years old in the upcoming season, it will be challenging to compete for a championship with one of the key players at that age.

Furthermore, there is no guarantee that Davis will maintain his current level of health in the next season. Therefore, the team needed Pelinka to aggressively pursue improvements at the deadline to bring the team closer to contention while their window of opportunity is still open.

Recently, the Lakers did make some moves. Shortly after the trade deadline, they secured the services of former Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who had been recently bought out.

While Dinwiddie is a valuable addition capable of providing scoring off the bench, Pelinka’s decision to wait and sign him instead of being proactive during the deadline is another example of his preference for acquiring inexpensive ball handlers over solid three-and-D rotational players.

It is simply unacceptable that the Lakers have been playing close to .500 basketball since 2021. A team with two top 10 players should consistently contend for championships.

James’ tenure in L.A. cannot be considered a complete failure. Unfortunately, the Lakers faltered in managing the LeBron era by prioritizing the wrong kind of supporting cast around him, despite the blueprint laid out by the 2020 championship victory.