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Back in 2013, Jeanie Buss took over as the primary owner of the LA Lakers. While the team has had some success under her, there are countless instances of the franchise missing on big decisions.
The latest instance of the Lakers coming up short is in their coaching search. Over the past two weeks, there have been countless reports of them going after UConn coach Dan Hurley. He'd end up declining the job after LA made him an offer that wouldn't have put him among the top coaches in the league.
As the Lakers continue to search for a replacement for Darvin Ham, here are some of the blunders that have happened in the Jeanie Buss era.
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Letting Alex Caruso go for nothing, and 4 other disastrous decisions LA Lakers have made under Jeanie Buss
1) Lowballing two high-level coaches
The situation with Dan Hurley marks the second time in the last five years that the LA Lakers have lowballed a top-tier coaching candidate. Back in 2019, they had a chance at bringing in Ty Lue but failed to do so.
Lue was let go by the Cleveland Cavaliers early in the 2019 season. Before becoming head coach of the LA Clippers, the Lakers tried to pry him away. However, reports indicated that he was not pleased by their low offer and declined.
2) Letting Alex Caruso walk for nothing
When the LA Lakers won the NBA title back in 2020, Alex Caruso was one of their key role players. Between his high-level defense and ability to move without the ball, he fit great alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
During the 2021 offseason, Caruso hit the open market. Instead of making sure they retained him, he ended up walking for nothing. Since joining the Chicago Bulls, Caruso has been one of the most sought-after role players in the league.
3) Doing nothing at the 2024 trade deadline
For months leading up to the trade deadline, the LA Lakers were linked to countless players in rumors. At the thick of the rumored links was D'Angelo Russell.
Despite the countless reports, the Lakers ended up doing nothing at the deadline. While there was no move out there that would have made them a contender, it still isn't a great look for a team trying to compete. This decision could look worse this offseason if Russell ends up walking for nothing in free agency.
4) Missing in the 2023 NBA draft
Hitting in the draft is crucial for a team like the LA Lakers, who have a lot of money tied up in their stars. The back end of the 2023 class ended up producing multiple promising players, but they didn't select any of them.
With the 17th pick, the Lakers drafted Jalen Hood-Schifino. The players taken right after him were Jaime Jaquez Jr., Brandin Podziemski, and Cam Whitmore. They all went on to play well for their respective teams, and two of them made an All-Rookie team.
As LA looks to stay competitive in the Western Conference, one thing they have failed to do is add promising young talent to the pipeline.
5) Trading for Russell Westbrook
One of the biggest blunders of the Jeanie Buss era was when the Lakers made the decision to trade for Russell Westbrook. Acquiring the former MVP was questionable from the start, and cost the franchise valuable seasons.
Two years removed from winning a title, LA sacrificed depth for star power. In a series of events that many saw coming, Westbrook failed to mesh alongside LeBron and AD. The team struggled greatly in his season-and-a-half there, and Westbrook took most of the blame.
