Los Angeles Lakers · Franchise era 7 of 8
The difficult rebuild: the Los Angeles Lakers story
The story in one sentence
Injuries broke an ambitious veteran roster, and the Lakers spent several years developing young players after Bryant's final run.
An aging gamble gives way to the lottery
Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for lebron, davis and another banner.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2012–13
What came before
Bryant carried transitional teams, then Gasol's arrival created a skilled, versatile champion in 2009 and 2010.
- 33TradeJuly 11, 2012
July 11, 2012
The sign-and-trade that sent Steve Nash to Los Angeles
Los Angeles wanted an elite organizer beside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol; Phoenix chose draft value rather than lose its longtime point guard for nothing.
To LAL
To PHX20131STround asset20151STround asset+2 assetsSteve Nash to the LakersLAL receives Steve NashPHX receives 2013 1st-round pick, 2015 1st-round pick, 2013 2nd-round pick + 1 more5 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → - 34TradeAugust 10, 2012
August 10, 2012
The four-team blockbuster that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers
The Lakers chased another superstar center, the Nuggets and 76ers reshaped contenders, and Orlando finally ended months of uncertainty around Howard's future.
To LALDraftPICKround asset
To ORLDraftPICKround asset+5 assetsDwight Howard to the LakersLAL receives Dwight Howard, Earl Clark, Chris DuhonORL receives Nikola Vučević, Maurice Harkless, Arron Afflalo + 5 more11 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 2013
Western Conference First Round: Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs
After 2017–18
What came next
James and Davis restored the Lakers to the summit with the 2020 championship before another major roster handoff reshaped the future.
The core