LOS ANGELES — There were smiles — lots of smiles — in the back hallways of the Crypto.Com Arena on Thursday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers purging roster problems in the previous two days, restocking the roster with younger players more suited to complement the team’s stars.
Following trades that sent out Russell Westbrook, Thomas Bryant and Patrick Beverley and popular reserves Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson – the team’s locker room was suddenly vacant.
Austin Reaves sat by himself on one side of the room when Lonnie Walker IV bounced into the room.