On February 13, Beijing time, the well-known AMERICAN media Bleacher Report (B/R) posted an article discussing the current situation of the Lakers, with the headline "Don't forget LeBron's role in the Lakers blame game, James's behind-the-scenes operation is an important reason for the Lakers' existing lineup." In the text, B/R believes that the Lakers' poor performance cannot all be blamed on Westbrook, Vogel and Pelinka, because this is the lineup that James wants.
In previous back-to-back games, James' Lakers have lost consecutively to two teams in opposite positions, one was last season's championship Bucks, and the other was the Blazers who had just regrouped and rushed to the lottery area. In the final moments of the game that lost to the Bucks, Westbrook was pressed on the bench. Against the Blazers, Westbrook didn't play, but James and Brow also lost to Blazers Albee, Bravins and Brown III (all of whom were NBA fringe players).
On the closing date of the trade, Westbrook was not traded, and the other players of the Lakers were not traded, which is not surprising, because no one originally thought that other teams would be interested in accepting Westbrook's huge contract, unless general manager Pelinka is willing to take the lakers' only first-round pick that can be traded at present.
Westbrook has become a popular target for Lakers fans to blame, but even if he is exchanged for Wall, it will not solve too many problems. At this stage of the season, the Lakers also do not plan to dismiss the employer Coach Vogel, the Lakers are 26-30, he is another Lakers member who is often scolded on the hot search.
B/R pointed out that if anyone should really be blamed for the Lakers' current situation, it is not Westbrook or Vogel, nor Perrinka, because he is only the nominal general manager, and his power is quite limited under the influence of James, one of the best players in history.
It was the lineup James wanted, and he was actively involved in recruiting Westbrook and pushing Pelinka to send title-winning key role players Pop, Kuzma and powerful backup center Harrell to Washington. The other members on the list are mainly filled by James's close friends or clients of his agent Rich Paul (Horton Tucker, Nunn, etc.). If Pelinka and owner Jenny made any mistakes, they didn't keep Caruso after they exchanged for Westbrook, and he was one of the Lakers' most important rotation players.
B/R believes that James's choice to sign with the Lakers in 2018 is not only impressed by Pelinka's team lineup concept, the reason why he chose the Lakers is because James thinks it is cool to wear a purple and gold jersey, and becoming a Lakers player can bring him more off-court opportunities. Journalist Ken Berger has reported that James said to a close friend next to him in 2018: "If I'm going to leave Cleveland again, it needs to be like I dreamed of when I was a kid." His agent, Rich Paul, also hinted in a report last year that forcing Brow to leave New Orleans to join the Lakers was his and James' idea.
After joining the Lakers, James got the lineup he wanted, and it worked at one point, winning the 2020 championship, which is a fact. However, it is also true that the current Lakers have been in trouble and it is difficult to find a way out.