Record: 57-25, first place in Pacific Division
Kobe Bryant, frustrated with the Lakers' recent lack of success, asked to be traded before the season, a request ignored by the team. The Lakers were 25-11 when center Andrew Bynum suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Lakers went 3-5 without Bynum before Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak made a trade to fill the void, sending Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Marc Gasol, a 2008 first-round draft pick (Donte Greene) and a 2010 first-round pick (Greivis Vasquez) to the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round pick (Devin Ebanks).
Gasol seemed born to play the triangle offense and immediately reversed the Lakers fortunes. They finished the season on a 22-5 run to win the Pacific Division.
Playoffs: The Lakers wasted little time in defeating Denver, Utah and San Antonio to set up an NBA Finals matchup between the Lakers and their longtime rivals, the Boston Celtics, the first time they had met for the championship since 1987. It wasn't meant to be, however, as the Celtics defeated the Lakers in six games, including a 131-92 rout in Game 6.