After a promising run to the Western Conference Finals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers had every opportunity to build on that momentum by surrounding LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the necessary pieces needed to compete. They failed gloriously.
Before the Lakers could hand Gabe Vincent a contract that still looks ugly to this day in that offseason's free agency, the 2023 NBA Draft would set the stage for an incredibly disappointing selection. Los Angeles drafted Jalen Hood-Schifino with the 17th overall pick.
It took less than two years for the Lakers to give up on the former Indiana product.