The Lakers’ front office chose to hire D’Antoni instead of bringing back Phil Jackson for a third stint with the team and the decision has backfired thus far. Los Angeles is currently sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference with an ugly record of 24-28 following the loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday.
Although there’s been signs of promise with the new-look Lakers over the course of the seven-game road trip, the team has also fallen apart at times with losses to the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, and a poor effort against the lowly Charlotte Bobcats.
Needless to say, the team built around Kobe Bryant to win a championship during the off-season hasn’t been working.
Now that Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill are on the shelf for the foreseeable future, the question remains about whether or not the team should pursue a trade before the deadline on Feb. 21. The results of the seven-game road trip were thought to help determine the fate of the team and some of its players, but uncertainty continues to swirl with less than two weeks to go before the deadline.
Following the loss to the Heat on Sunday, general manager Mitch Kupchak and D’Antoni will meet to discuss the roster and potential moves that can be made moving forward. The Lakers’ front office has been adamant about not trading Dwight Howard and will be forced to keep Pau Gasol until the end of the season due to his injured foot, but that doesn’t mean other players aren’t expendable or potentially on the block in Los Angeles.
Big moves to mix things up probably won’t happen in the coming weeks, but anything is possible with Kupchak and company no strangers to making a deal after claiming that nothing will be done.
Lakers Nation News
Lakers Fall To LeBron James, Heat In Contested Miami Battle
Poll Results: Lakers Nation Believes Team Can Beat Miami
Lakers News: Dwight Howard’s Father Discusses Recent Drama Between The Lakers And His Son
Poll Results: Have The Lakers Lost Hope Without Pau Gasol?
Lakers News: Kobe “Irratated” With Team’s Performance In Charlotte
Lakers Top 10 Videos: Metta Punches, Alley-Oops And Kobe Facials
Lakers News: Dwight Howard Wants Team To Support Him More
Lakers News: Kobe & Nash Met To Talk About Dwight Howard
Lakers News: Lakers Trying To Find Offensive Rhythm Without Pau Gasol
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Sees Immediate Impact With Gasol Out
Why Metta World Peace Must Be The Ont To Step Up In Pau Gasol’s Absence
Kobe’s Adjusted Game From Mid-Range Helping Lakers Find Success
Fittingly, Lakers, Dwight Howard Face Brooklyn At A Crossroads
Lakers News
Although Now With Lakers, Dwight Howard’s Presence Is Still Felt In Orlando [LA Times]
Dwight Howard’s Father Says Son, Kobe Bryant Should Hash Out Issues [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant: I’m Done Voicing Opinions About Dwight Howard [LA Times]
Hakeem Olajuwon Believes Dwight Howard Will Re-Sign With Lakers [LA Times]
Meet Former Lakers Coach Bill Sharman At A Book Signing [LA Times]
Ding: D’Antoni Needs To Rein In Personalities [OC Register]
Miller: Howard Brings Headlines – And Headaches – To Lakers [OC Register]
Howard On Defensive About Playing With Sore Shoulder [OC Register]
Don’t Play In The All-Star Game, Dwight [Silver Screen & Roll]
Dwight’s Father Believes He Will Re-Sign With LA [Silver Screen & Roll]
Video: Coach Nick Breaks Down HORNS Sets [Silver Screen & Roll]
Howard’s Dad Says Meeting Necessary [LA Daily News]
LAKERS NOTEBOOK: Antawn Jamison OK With LA Choice [LA Daily News]
LAKERS NOTEBOOK: Team’s Plight A Laughing Matter To TNT Analysts [LA Daily News]
NBA News
VIDEO: LeBron James Goes Down The Middle And Jams It In [Sports City]
NBA Tweets Of The Day: Hornets’ Anthony Davis Wants His ESPN [Sports City]
Report: Phoenix Suns Want Shumpert, Would Trade Dudley In Deal [Sports City]
NBA Morning Recap: Nuggest Win Ninth Straight; Pistons Escape [Sports City]
NBA Rumors: Evan Turner Being Shopped Around By Sixers? [Sports City]
J.R. Smith Is A Silent Towel Assassin [SB Nation]
Pursue Eric Maynor? [SB Nation]
NBA Playoff Picture: Sorry, Wiz [SB Nation]
Avery’s Arrival [SB Nation]
Danny Granger Takes Part In Full-Court Work [SB Nation]
This Week In GIFs, NBA Edition [SB Nation]
Clippers Bench, Chris Paul Too Much For Carmelo Anthony Alone In LA Win [Pro Basketball Talk]
Warriors Have ‘No Panic’ After 25-Point Loss In Dallas, Their Fourth Straight [Pro Basketball Talk]
Blake Griffin Throws Down The Alley-Oop Against The Knicks (VIDEO) [Pro Basketball Talk]
The Time George Karl Decided To Float A Crazy Trade Rumor Just Because [Pro Basketball Talk]