Ranking the Lakers' 10 best roster moves in LeBron James era

03/24/2025 12:39 PM

It’s been a roller-coaster ride for the Los Angeles Lakers since bringing over LeBron James. It hasn’t been a perfect tenure for The King. However, apart from collecting gold and history, there’s no question that the team has been a consistent playoff contender since he arrived. Here are the Lakers’ 10 best roster moves in the LeBron James era, ranked.

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1. Going all-in for Anthony Davis

Initially, the NBA world wasn’t exactly sure if the Lakers’ gambling on Anthony Davis to win now was the right move. In the process, they gave up their future building blocks in Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, DeAndre Hunter, and a couple of first-round draft picks. In the end, Davis’ acquisition was worth it as pairing him with James ended the championship drought for the Lakers in 2020. Moreover, the duo also helped the Lakers become the first ever NBA Cup champions.

2. Trading for Luka Doncic

In one of the most shocking bombshell deals in trade deadline history, the Lakers swapped Anthony Davis for the Dallas Mavericks’ face of the franchise, Luka Doncic. There were questions facing the Lakers front office once James decides to hang up his sneakers. With the deal, all concerns regarding the present and future were answered in just one swing. Since the deal, the Lakers look like legitimate championship contenders with Doncic and James at the helm, at least when their healthy.

3. Developing Alex Caruso into a starter-caliber player

Originally undrafted, the Lakers signed up Alex Caruso to a two-way contract. He impressed enough at the NBA Summer League for Los Angeles to reward him to a standard NBA deal. Playing alongside James, Caruso’s potential was realized as he showcased his hustle, perimeter defense, and timely shooting. His two-way play and nose for the ball proved to be pivotal in the Lakers’ title run inside the bubble.

4. Finding another gem in Austin Reaves

While Caruso’s departure to the Chicago Bulls was heartbreaking for Lakers fans, fortunately, the team found a replacement in Austin Reaves. Like Caruso, Reaves was an undrafted player whom the Lakers took a chance on. Since then, the 6-foot-5 guard has emerged as one of the most potent offensive weapons in the team’s rotation. He not only helped the Lakers become the first NBA Cup champions, but he remains as one of the team’s best starters.

5. Signing Danny Green in 2019

Aside from trading for Davis during the 2019 offseason, the team also made a significant acquisition by bringing Danny Green to Los Angeles. Green had just been fresh from winning a championship with the Toronto Raptors. His elite 3-and-D play would seamlessly fit alongside James and Davis, propelling the Purple and Gold to a championship in 2020.

6. Trading away Russell Westbrook

After a failed title defense, the Lakers’ front office initially thought that bringing over a third star to supplement James and Davis was the key back to a championship. With Russell Westbrook available, the team jumped the gun by trading away some of their championship pieces.

Unfortunately, the critics turned out to be right as the 2017 NBA MVP’s fit in the team was disastrous. In the middle of the 2022-23 season, after the team missed the postseason a year prior, the Lakers shipped Westbrook in a package that welcomed players like D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley. The move allowed the Lakers to become surprise championship contenders, making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

7. Giving Dwight Howard a second chance

After leaving for the Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard took his talents to Los Angeles, teaming up with Kobe Bryant. However, the stint was catastrophic, as the Lakers barely limped to the playoffs, dealing with a myriad of locker room and injury concerns.

Years later, a declining Howard joined a different Lakers team, this time headed by James. Although Howard was relegated to a bench player, he fulfilled his role perfectly as a big-man stopper. Howard not only finished around the rim with authority, but he also made his mark by putting the clamps on opposing big men, including Nikola Jokic.

8. Picking up Markieff Morris at the buyout market

The buyout market is usually filled with veterans who would make solid rotational players. Typically, these players bring a minor effect to the teams they sign to. However, the Lakers snatched a big fish when they were able to acquire Markieff Morris’ services. Morris spaced the floor perfectly for the Lakers inside the NBA bubble. Coincidentally, Morris was also part of the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis blockbuster exchange, making him one of two holdovers from the Lakers’ championship run.

9. Acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith

Prior to the shocking 2025 trade deadline, Los Angeles already started to make moves to fortify their championship hopes. They kicked things off by winning the Dorian Finney-Smith race, prying him away from other contenders. The former Brooklyn Net was a coveted asset due to his two-way play. With great size and defense, he certainly gives the Lakers more defensive teeth. Playing him alongside another lanky perimeter defender in Vanderbilt makes life difficult for opposing perimeter players.

10. Drafting Dalton Knecht

Under the LeBron James era, the Lakers didn’t exactly have plenty of draft picks. However, they did get a steal in Dalton Knecht when they drafted him 17th overall at the 2024 NBA Draft. Although a rescinded trade for Mark Williams may have ruffled his feathers, keeping him around may be a blessing in disguise for the Purple and Gold. This year, the rookie is averaging 9.0 points per game. He should easily be a franchise building block for the future.

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