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The Los Angeles Lakers started the decade by defeating the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals. A thrilling 4-3 series win handed the Lakers their 16th title, and the organization looked set to remain competitive for the foreseeable future. However, the Lakers won just 9 postseason games over the next three seasons, and they have now been absent from the playoffs since 2013.
Despite a lack of success, LA fans have been treated to the final years of Kobe Bryant, while the addition of the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis has helped to build excitement within the organization heading into 2020. With that said, the quality found on the Lakers roster has been underwhelming for much of the past ten years, and here we will take a look at the five worst players to play for the Los Angeles Lakers players since 2010.
#5 Metta World Peace (2009-2013, 2015-2017)
When Metta World Peace joined the Lakers back in 2009 he was still a borderline All-Star after averaging more than 20 points per game over the previous five seasons. However, World Peace averaged a career-low 11 points per game during his first season in Los Angeles, and his production continued to decline over the next two seasons.
World Peace enjoyed his best year with the Lakers during the 2012-13 season, although he still managed just 12.4 points in 33.7 minutes per game. The 2004 All-Star left for the Knicks during the summer of 2013 but made a shock return to the Lakers in September 2015. Over his final two seasons with the Lakers, World Peace averaged just 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game and also shot a dismal 30% from the field.
#4 Luol Deng (2016-2018)
Luol Deng made two All-Star appearances during his time with the Chicago Bulls, although he was showing signs of decline during a two-year spell with the Miami Heat. Nevertheless, the Lakers handed Deng a four-year, $72 million contract during the 2016 offseason, and the then 31-year-old went on to become one of the costliest mistakes in the history of the team.
Deng played 56 times during the 2016-17 season but managed just 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game. The former All-Star also shot a career-low 38% from the field, and he went on to play just once during the 17–18 season as Luke Walton opted to go with younger options. Deng could have been an excellent addition had he headed to Los Angeles during his prime years, although due to his salary and poor performances, he will go down as one of the worst to play in purple and gold.
#3 Timofey Mozgov (2016-17)
After missing out on their primary targets during the 2016 offseason, the Lakers signed Timofey Mozgov to a four-year, $64 million contract. The size of the contract was immediately criticized by rival executives, and Mozgov did nothing to justify his huge salary during a miserable season with the team.
Mozgov was installed as a starter throughout the first half of the season, although the 7’1 big was shut down in March following a series of disappointing performances. The Russian didn't excel in any area, and his 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game were an awful return for a player that among the teams highest earners.
#2 Robert Sacre (2012-2016)
Robert Sacre was a throwback big that wasn't particularly efficient, shooting just 43.6% from the field during his four years in the league. He also never managed to average more than 4 rebounds per game throughout a season, and his highest points tally came during the 13-14 campaign as he averaged just 5.4 points in 16.8 minutes per game.
Due to his underwhelming performances on one of the NBA's worst teams, Sacre never played in the league again following his release in 2016, and following a spell in Japan, he retired from basketball earlier this year at the age of 30.
#1 Ryan Kelly (2013-2016)
Ryan Kelly was selected by the Lakers with the 48th overall pick in the 2013 draft, and the power forward averaged 8.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in his rookie season. Following a solid first year, Kelly was promoted to the starting lineup for much of the 14-15 season, however, despite playing more minutes, his production declined, and Kelly averaged just 6.4 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 34% from the field.
Kelly remained in the rotation for the start of the 15-16 season, although it quickly came apparent that he didn't possess the quality to play in the NBA, and he was eventually sent down to the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Unsurprisingly, the Lakers didn't offer Kelly a new contract in the summer of 2016, and the 28-year-old has spent the past two seasons outside the league following a brief nine-game spell with the Atlanta Hawks.
