The Lakers were active on the trade market before the trade deadline as they brought in five new players, namely, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Mo Bamba and Davon Reed.
Los Angeles also parted ways with Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Thomas Bryant, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones.
LeBron James was asked about what he thought of his team’s activity in the trade market after the game against the Pelicans.
“First of all, I shout out and salute the guys that left Russ, Pat, JTA, DJ and Thomas, those five guys,” James said. “We all started the season together and tried to work to make some things happen and be the best that we could be on the floor. So, I salute those guys and their commitment to us trying to be as good as we could be on the floor.
“I like the guys that we have coming in. It’s going to take some time for us to get to know one another. They play the game at a high level. D-Lo is a really good shifty point guard, can space the floor, very crafty very deceiving with his quickness, the way he plays the game.
“We got a laser in Malik that we just never had this season. Where a guy no matter if he’s on the floor, no matter if he’s making or not, you have to respect him because of his ability to shoot the ball. He has kind of J.R. Smith feeling to him that he can miss ten in a row, he can make ten in a row right after that.
“Vando is a Swiss army knife. He can do a little bit of everything. His defensive ability, his offensive rebounding ability. You saw tonight we had a turnover in the backcourt, he wasn’t even in the backcourt, but got a block at the rim and then got to contest a three after that and saved as a possession, AD got the rebound and a foul.
“I think Mo is going to give us a lot of presence as well. You saw his shot blocking ability and his ability to shoot the three. No matter if he made them or not tonight, he’s a threat and he will as he gets comfortable.
“I just love who we were able to pick up. And Davon as well if his opportunity is called. His length, his ability to play. multiple positions helps us a well. I thought we did a really good job in the activity bracket on Thursday.”
