“In the two months that followed their first-round playoff flop against Phoen ix [Suns], when [Anthony] Davis’ groin injury left them pulling up lame, the Lakers explored the prospect of trading for such stars as Damian Lillard, Brad ley Beal, DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook,” wrote Bill Oram, Shams Charan ia, and Sam Amick of the Athletic.
“The process unfolded well beyond the team’s front office’s search, with Ja mes setting up a war room of his own at his Brentwood estate for some in-perso n player meetings while leading remote communications in other conversations. ”