May 20, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court during game three of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NBA Champion Calls Out Lakers Following Timberwolves-Knicks Trade

Originally posted on Fastbreak on SI | By Ben Stinar | Last updated Sep 28, 2024 2:45 AM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers have had a quiet offseason in terms of upgrading the roster.

They are coming off a season where they lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs, so there is a lot of pressure on the team to outperform last season's struggles.

On Friday evening, Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reported that the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves had made a blockbuster trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns.

Knicks have acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick via Detroit, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. pic.twitter.com/FafQlY48Y1
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 28, 2024

Earlier in the day, the Lakers announced a new addition to their staff.

Via The Lakers: "The Lakers have hired Dr. Vanessa Brooks as head athletic trainer. Dr. Brooks spent the past five seasons as physical therapist and athletic trainer for the Oklahoma City Thunder."

The Lakers have hired Dr. Vanessa Brooks as head athletic trainer. Dr. Brooks spent the past five seasons as physical therapist and athletic trainer for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 28, 2024

NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins responded to the post.

Perkins wrote: "The NBA is NBA’ing meanwhile the Lakers are hiring their trainers. "

The NBA is NBA’ing meanwhile the Lakers are hiring their trainers. https://t.co/0sajpdg05S
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) September 28, 2024

Fans reacted to Perkins.

Via @Real_AEX: "Rob is just waiting for that perfect opportunity to trade 1 first round pick for that all nba caliber player lol."

Rob is just waiting for that perfect opportunity to trade 1 first round pick for that all nba caliber player lol.
— Wilde Seneca (@Real_AEX) September 28, 2024

Via @LakersLead: "??? we’re not allowed to hire a trainer???"

??? we’re not allowed to hire a trainer???
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) September 28, 2024

Via @ImJustMeAbel: "That is pure cold "

That is pure cold
— Abel (@ImJustMeAbel) September 28, 2024

Via @SkinnySmokeski: "Listen I've been real critical of the lack of improvement in the off-season for this team but this is dumb as hell why even bring us up in this conversation"

Listen I've been real critical of the lack of improvement in the off-season for this team but this is dumb as hell why even bring us up in this conversation https://t.co/vgjb9Fe7zm
— Soul King (@SkinnySmokeski) September 28, 2024

Via @KingMeezy11: "They needed to revamp their staff to have quality people in. You're looking at it as a team who wasn't healthy last year and wasn't an organized style team just needs to trade. They need to stay healthy and have an identity. We don't know what kind of team they are healthy"

They needed to revamp their staff to have quality people in. You're looking at it as a team who wasn't healthy last year and wasn't an organized style team just needs to trade. They need to stay healthy and have an identity. We don't know what kind of team they are healthy https://t.co/RWLxpdGohu
— King.Meezy (@KingMeezy11) September 28, 2024

The Lakers will play their first game on October 22 when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This article first appeared on Fastbreak on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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