10 NBA Offseason Moves That Could Go Horribly Wrong | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers represent the other end of the spectrum: not doing enough.

The rules of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement were clear in 2023, but LA gave options for several players (D’Angelo Russell, Christian Wood, Cam Reddish, etc.). The Lakers could have anticipated their payroll and roster flexibility before July’s free agency, using others with max cap space to dump unwanted salary (like the Detroit Pistons or Charlotte Hornets, who helped other franchises do just that).

Instead, the Lakers held on, which could produce a similar early playoff exit. The team was paralyzed, but an early, decisive move could have changed its fortunes.