DeMarcus Cousins is surprisingly convinced that the Los Angeles Lakers aren't "serious" about winning after beating Bronny James and not making a trade this offseason. (PO)

The Los Angeles Lakers put forth their best efforts in the last NBA season but were defeated by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. This loss resulted in significant changes, starting with the dismissal of the entire coaching staff, including head coach Darvin Ham. As the new NBA preseason began, the Lakers made relatively unimpressive moves in the offseason, catching the attention of former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins.

The Lakers’ notable moves during the offseason included hiring JJ Redick and re-signing their star, LeBron James. The Lakers also selected LeBron James’ son, Bronny, in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, making them the first father-son duo in NBA history. While many fans and players are pleased with the James duo, Cousins took shots at the franchise for its seriousness.

“I take it as a sign that I don’t really think the Lakers are serious anymore. You know, I love everything that it stands for. I think what Bron is doing with his legacy, as a businessman and everything that comes with it, is a beautiful thing. I think it’s really dope,” Cousins said on the Run It Back podcast.

Cousins suggested that the Lakers are solely focused on pleasing their star, James. While expressing his respect for James’ legacy, Cousins emphasized the Lakers’ need to undertake strategic moves to clinch the title this season.

Cousins Holds High Expectations for Lakers’ Trade Activity

The Lakers made multiple attempts to acquire key players in the league through significant trade proposals in the offseason. The franchise worked hard to add Klay Thompson with an impressive offer, but they were unsuccessful. Thompson rejected their offer and chose to join the Dallas Mavericks. Despite these efforts, Cousins believes that the franchise has not made enough efforts to improve its roster.

“As far as the Lakers actually competing, I don’t know. I take that as a sign that they aren’t really serious. With the way their season ended last year, with the high expectations, I expected more from them in terms of making moves,” Cousins said.

Other NBA teams have made significant moves in the offseason. If the Lakers fail to acquire impressive players, it could be a challenging season for them.