Los Angeles Lakers

Paul Pierce went at the Los Angeles Lakers after he thought they were tanking for Victor Wembanyama. But he later found out that's not possible.

[Paul Pierce](https://www.basketballnetwork.net/tag/paul-pierce) even called out the Lakers for trying to pair [LeBron James](https://www.basketballnetwork.net/tag/lebron-james) with the presumed No. Adding one of the league's best big men to a James-led squad gave the franchise a good shot at winning the title, which it did the following season. gave the Pelicans the right to swap first-round picks in 2023. Because the Stepien Rule prevents any team from trading away its first-round pick in consecutive years, L.A. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.basketballnetwork.net/tag/los-angeles-lakers) are playing now, it is not uncommon for people to think they are tanking to get a better chance at a higher pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. [Boston Celtics](https://www.basketballnetwork.net/tag/boston-celtics) icon backtracked a little later after realizing that Los Angeles would likely lose its 2023 first-round pick to the [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.basketballnetwork.net/tag/new-orleans-pelicans).