Jared Dudley
Photo: Los Angeles Lakers/Twitter

Even though the move to retirement was relatively smooth for former Laker Jared Dudley, as he instantly turned into an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks, the veteran thought the Los Angeles Lakers would have made a better decision by keeping him for another year.

The 36-year-old former player admitted he was expecting to remain on the Lakers roster for one more season but the team prioritized signing young players instead of him. According to Dudley, such move was wrong.

Via Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times:

“I talked to Rob and Kurt, I thanked them, but I told them, you’re valuing youth more than a locker room presence guy,” Dudley said. “I said, ‘I respect you for doing that, but I think you’re wrong.”

Dudley also revealed that both LeBron James and Anthony Davis wanted the Lakers to re-sign him, but the front office had other plans.