When the Los Angeles Lakers hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy inside the NBA bubble in October 2020, many thought it marked the beginning of a new era of dominance. Anchored by the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team had the star power to repeat. But beyond their All-NBA talent, what made the Lakers truly elite that year was their balance, chemistry, and most importantly, defense. And that defense was largely constructed on the backs of three gritty, selfless role players: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Danny Green, and Alex Caruso. According to ESPN, the Lakers’ decision to part ways with this 3-and-D core was their biggest post-title mistake — a misstep that has haunted them ever since.
Each of those players represented a crucial element in the Lakers’ championship blueprint. Caldwell-Pope, the athletic wing defender with a reliable three-point shot, was a tireless on-ball pest and a big-time shot maker in clutch moments. Danny Green, a proven veteran with multiple championship rings, brought floor spacing, defensive versatility, and a calm presence under pressure. And Caruso, the fan-favorite undrafted guard, gave the Lakers a jolt of energy and hustle every time he stepped on the court. While none of them were household names like LeBron or AD, they were the glue that held the team together — the kind of players who made winning plays that don’t always show up in the box score.
In the 2020 playoff run, the Lakers weren’t just winning games on star power alone. They smothered teams with elite perimeter defense, closing out hard on shooters and switching with intelligence and intensity. Caldwell-Pope and Caruso were often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter players, while Green used his length and experience to wreak havoc in passing lanes. Their ability to hit timely shots, especially from the corners, stretched opposing defenses and allowed LeBron and AD to operate in more space. They understood their roles and executed them with surgical precision. It was a perfectly constructed machine where everyone complemented each other. That unit wasn’t just good — it was championship caliber.
Yet, in the seasons following that title run, the Lakers dismantled that core piece by piece. Danny Green was the first to go, shipped off to Oklahoma City in the trade for Dennis Schröder. While Schröder had his moments, the deal disrupted the defensive balance. Caldwell-Pope was next, included in the 2021 trade to acquire Russell Westbrook — a move that would eventually become one of the most scrutinized decisions in franchise history. And finally, in an even more puzzling move, Alex Caruso wasn’t re-signed in 2021 free agency due to luxury tax concerns, despite his desire to return and willingness to accept a relatively modest contract.
Since then, the Lakers have been in a constant state of identity crisis. They’ve chased offensive firepower and big names, but struggled to recapture the defensive tenacity and cohesion that defined their 2020 success. The Westbrook experiment failed to mesh with LeBron and AD, not because of lack of talent, but because it undermined the very formula that had delivered them a championship: defensive versatility, floor spacing, and selfless role players. While the front office made moves to correct course in subsequent seasons — bringing in players like Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Austin Reaves — the results have been mixed. The Lakers have battled inconsistency, defensive lapses, and early playoff exits.
Meanwhile, all three of the departed 3-and-D stalwarts have continued to thrive elsewhere. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went on to win another championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023, playing the exact same role he did in L.A.: defending top wings, hitting threes, and staying ready in big moments. Danny Green, despite bouncing around the league, remains a respected veteran voice and capable wing defender when healthy. And Caruso has blossomed into an All-Defensive First Team guard in Chicago, earning praise for his on-ball pressure, court awareness, and locker room leadership. Ironically, all three are exactly the type of players the Lakers have been desperately seeking in recent years.
It’s a classic case of underappreciating the essentials in pursuit of flashier upgrades. In today’s NBA, wings who can defend multiple positions and shoot threes at a decent clip are at a premium. The Lakers had three of them in their prime and let them go without sufficient replacements. This wasn’t simply about talent — it was about fit. The synergy between LeBron, AD, and those role players was organic. There was trust, rhythm, and a shared defensive mindset. It’s rare to build that kind of chemistry in a single season, let alone re-create it after breaking it up.
ESPN’s critique of the Lakers’ post-2020 strategy is less about blaming individuals and more about questioning the franchise’s broader vision. Why abandon a proven formula? Why chase splashy trades at the cost of continuity and defense? LeBron, even in his late 30s, is still a top-tier player. Davis, when healthy, remains one of the league’s best two-way big men. But surrounding them with the right pieces is the key to maximizing their window — a window that won’t stay open forever.
It’s also worth noting how much the Lakers have missed Caruso’s intangible contributions. His hustle plays, timely steals, and relentless ball pressure often shifted momentum in games. He was a favorite of both LeBron and Frank Vogel because he did the dirty work — diving for loose balls, taking charges, and making the extra pass. When the Lakers let him walk, it sent a message that they were prioritizing financial flexibility over basketball fit. In hindsight, it was a short-sighted move that disrupted the team’s defensive backbone.
Caldwell-Pope’s departure was similarly costly. He was one of the few Lakers wings who could reliably knock down threes and guard shifty scorers. In the 2020 Finals, he averaged over 11 points per game and hit several key shots to swing momentum. His transition defense and ability to leak out for easy buckets added a vital dimension to the Lakers’ attack. Letting him go in the Westbrook trade, which also cost them valuable depth, was a gamble that never paid off.
Danny Green, while on the older side, brought invaluable championship pedigree. His leadership and calm presence in the locker room were underrated assets, especially in high-pressure playoff environments. Green’s departure left a void in terms of playoff experience and floor spacing — a void that the Lakers struggled to fill.
In the years since the title, the Lakers have made repeated attempts to rebuild a contender around LeBron and AD. Some of those efforts, like the 2023 trade deadline moves that brought in D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, yielded short-term improvement. But none have recreated the balanced, defense-first identity of the 2020 squad. The front office has shown a willingness to pivot and adjust, but the constant roster churn has made it difficult to establish continuity.
As the Lakers enter another critical season, the lessons of 2020 loom large. Defense wins championships. Role players matter. Chemistry can’t be manufactured overnight. And letting go of players who embody those values for the sake of flashier names or marginal upgrades can backfire in the long run. The 3-and-D trio of Caldwell-Pope, Green, and Caruso may not have filled highlight reels or dominated box scores, but they were champions in every sense. They knew their roles, excelled within them, and made the stars around them better.
ESPN’s evaluation isn’t just a retrospective criticism — it’s a cautionary tale. Teams that win titles usually do so with a mix of stars and high-functioning role players who buy into a shared vision. The Lakers had that, and they gave it away. In the years since, they’ve been chasing shadows of that perfect storm, trying to replicate what was once organically built. Perhaps, as they look toward the future, the franchise will remember the value of cohesion, defense, and the underappreciated players who form the backbone of champions.
