When the Los Angeles Lakers landed Luka Dončić, fans were suddenly far more forgiving towards a frustrating front office. Having a generational player fall into the laps of a GM who often cannot get out of his own way was hilariously fitting. A move that Lakers fans welcomed and gives them hope that even after LeBron James finally walks away that this team is going to remain among the league's contenders.
With that said, this playoff run has been a great example of just how lost the Lakers' front office has been. This dates back to a decision the OKC Thunder have headlined when the Lakers opted not to retain Alex Caruso. Caruso was pivotal in the team's Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets. Watching Caruso play such a huge role on the team favored to win it all serves as a reminder of what should have been for the Lakers.
Alex Caruso Is the Perfect Example of GM Rob Pelinka's Incompetence
The Lakers actively chose to retain Talen Horton-Tucker over a player who has been an invaluable bench piece at every stop of his career. Making matters worse is the fact that Horton-Tucker didn't pan out with the Lakers trading the forward in exchange for Patrick Beverly.
In reality, the Lakers gave up years of Alex Caruso for failed answers in Horton-Tucker and Beverly. It is easy to imagine just how well the point guard would fit in with the Lakers' core even now. Having Caruso off the bench would give the team more ability to rest Luka, LeBron, and Reaves. Caruso can knock shots down in the clutch and isn't afraid to defend any matchup.
This was evidenced by the point guard tangling with the league's best player in the Thunder's Game 7 win. All of this points out, the Lakers have consistently failed to build a cohesive roster since the team's bubble championship. After winning it all, the first response by Pelinka and the Los Angeles front office was to tear it all down.
Pelinka, having Luka fall into his lap, doesn't atone for the mistakes of the past. This includes the huge mistake of letting Caruso walk away and now compete for a franchise expected to win it all. It should still be the Lakers that Caruso is contributing to if the team had the ability to evaluate talent at any consistent level. No question, Caruso's playoff moment shines a bright light on one of the biggest mistakes in recent Laker history.