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The LA Lakers are one of the most decorated NBA franchises in the league and have won 17 championships so far, tied with the Boston Celtics for the most in NBA history. They are also one of the richest teams in the league and boast fans from all around the world.
The Lakers front office has a good history of putting together talented teams on the court and in this article, we will take a look at the five greatest trades in LA Lakers history.
Listing down the 5 Greatest Trades in LA Lakers History
LA Lakers have traded for some of the greatest legends, and here the five biggest moves their management has made in the NBA history.
#1- Kobe Bryant
The 1996 NBA draft is widely considered one of the most talented drafts in the history of the league. It had players like Allen Iverson (#1 pick), Stephon Marbury (#4 pick), Ray Allen (#5 pick), and Steve Nash (#15 pick), to name just a few.
With the 13th overall pick, the Charlotte Hornets selected Bryant. However, then- LA Lakers GM Jerry West wanted Bryant on his team as he was thoroughly impressed with the youngster's pre-draft workouts.
A few days later, Bryant was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for center Vlade Divac. The 'Black Mamba' would eventually bring home five championships to LA and spend his entire NBA basketball career with the team.
#2- Kareem Abdul Jabbar
After getting selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the first overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to its only NBA championship, winning three MVP awards as well. The league had no answer to his skills as he posted monstrous numbers on a nightly basis.
In 1974, he requested a trade to either the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Lakers. And in 1975, the LA Lakers acquired Abdul-Jabbar and reserve center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters and rookies Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman.
The LA Lakers won this trade as they racked up multiple championships during Abdul-Jabbar's tenure with the team while the Bucks did not get the same productivity from the players involved.
#3- Anthony Davis
After yet another disappointing NBA season (2018-19) where the Lakers failed to make it to the post-season for the seventh straight year, the LA Lakers front office went to work. This season was also the first time LeBron James, who was acquired in 2018 free agency, missed the playoffs in 14 years.
On 15 June 2019, following major speculation, the Pelicans agreed to trade Davis to the LA Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round draft picks, including the Lakers' No. 4 overall selection in the 2019 NBA draft.
This move made the LA Lakers have arguably the best star duo in the league and helped them win the 2020 NBA championship.
#4- James Worthy
James Worthy was not supposed to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. However, it was destiny that played its part in making sure that he played in LA.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had the 1982 first-round draft pick in a 1979 exchange for forward Don Ford. The Lakers selected Worthy with the first overall pick of the 1982 NBA draft. He would go on to spend all 12 seasons with the franchise, winning three NBA championships as part of the 'Showtime Lakers'.
#5- Pau Gasol
In 2007, the Lakers failed to reach the second round of the playoffs for the third straight season and there were rumors that Kobe Bryant wanted out of LA.
In a move to pacify Bryant and propel the team's chances of winning the title, the Lakers traded Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol and two draft picks (Donte Green and Greivis Vasquez) to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Pau Gasol and a draft pick (Devin Ebanks).
Pau made an immediate impact on the team as they went on to reach three straight NBA finals, winning two championships.
