Did Lakers Failure to Trade for Kyle Lowry Doom Their Title Repeat Hopes?

Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have been sent packing, it's the package they DIDN'T get at the trade deadline that has NBA observers talking this week. 

The Lakers were rumored to be in the running for a Kyle Lowry trade with the Toronto Raptors, but are said to have balked at giving up young talent Talen Horton-Tucker plus future draft picks in the package. Would a championship-caliber trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Kyle Lowry have been the ticket for a title repeat?

I still understand the Lakers not doing the Kyle Lowry deal for long-term reasons and don’t disagree with it…but in terms of this season alone, there is absolutely no denying he would’ve made more of an impact in this series just with his heart & fight alone

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) June 4, 2021

  

I’ve said it a bunch: OBVIOUSLY this is a different series for the Lakers if AD doesn’t get hurt. That’s a given. But *with* AD hurt, I would have liked to see this team with Lowry as an option to help carry them through this round. https://t.co/D6bESDjIYA

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 4, 2021

 

Remember when the Lakers wouldn’t give up TALEN HORTON-TUCKER for KYLE LOWRY

Might be an all-time whiff

— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) June 2, 2021

As pundits have pointed out, Lowry could have provided the veteran presence, heart and grit needed to grind out a playoff series, especially with Anthony Davis going down to injury. 

LeBron is 36 now, and his championship time clock is ticking, so it's natural to ask why the Lakers wouldn't have gone "all-out" to win now. 

Laker Nation... discuss. 

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports