Los Angeles Lakers: Questionable trades, injuries and a falling star ... what went wrong with NBA team

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 1033 GMT (1833 HKT) April 13, 2022

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis before a game against the Golden State Warriors.

(CNN)Los Angeles' nickname is the «City of Angels,» but this past season for theLos Angeles Lakers has been one conjured straight from the center of Dante's 'Inferno.'

The team — one so accustomed to success — endured a rough 2021/22, failing to reach the playoffs after a run of eight consecutive defeats at the end of the season knocked them out of contention. Despite having a roster that boasts superstars such as LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, the Lakers fell short of expectations, with head coach Frank Vogel ultimately paying the price From questionable offseason moves to injuries and failing stars, there have been a litany of reasons for the team's disappointing season. And with so many questions surrounding the team's future — a new head coach will have to be found and the roster will have to rebuilt with limited tools — the future around the Lakers is looking decidedly unclear.LeBron James #6 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a break in the action at Crypto.com Arena on April 1, 2022.Read MoreMaking movesTwo years ago, the Lakers were world champions. Behind a smothering defense and their two superstars — James and Davis — the team won the 2020 NBA championship title in the Covid-19 secure bubble in Florida. But this season's version of the team is a shadow of that one. After last season's playoff defeat to the Phoenix Suns — a playoff series in which Davis suffered an injury which turned the tide — a roster overhaul took place. The team traded for 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in