Andy Kamenetzky

Not content to simply run back a championship team, the Lakers wasted little time shaking things up. On Sunday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that an agreement in principle was reached with the Thunder to acquire Dennis Schröder in exchange for Danny Green and the 28th pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft. What are the implications? Well, Green’s departure could worsen the Lakers’ defense, or at minimum, require new schemes and responsibilities.

The Los Angeles Lakers won their NBA record-tying 17th championship Sunday night, beating the Miami Heat 4 games to 2. It’s an accomplishment that further cements the Lakers as one of the world’s preeminent professional sports franchises, one that came in the wake of a tragedy involving one of the franchise’s and NBA’s all-time greats. To commemorate the Lakers’ championship, The Athletic has compiled a selection of its in-depth coverage of the team, its championship and its path to the title.

The 2019-20 season will be remembered for many things, including tragedy and loss in multiple forms. But now, more than a year since opening night, it will also be remembered for greatness. The Lakers are, for the 17th time, NBA champions. LeBron James gets a fourth ring, Anthony Davis his first.