But the price the Lakers paid to get Nash has hurt the team even more. The Lakers missed out on a mid-first-round pick in 2013, and though they did get Julius Randle in the 2014 draft, they'll miss another draft pick when they're in the lottery again this season. They could have swiftly been rebuilding for the future, but instead, they've been stuck over the salary cap, signing cheap, ineffective players to surround two old veterans in Nash and Bryant.
The team came into this season optimistic that Nash could start for them, but he sat out several preseason games, and took himself out of another because he didn't feel right. It was reported that Nash recently hurt his back carrying bags.It's sad to see an all-time great point guard go out in an undistinguished way, and it's certainly not the finish the Lakers had hoped for.