NBA free market Over the past two days, the Lakers have become one of the biggest winners. They are veterans on the first day, but the Lakers have signed several young players the next day. The Lakers currently have 12 players, namely: James, Davis, Westbrook, Tucker, Howard, Gasol, Ariza, Anthony, Bazemore, Nunn, Monk, and Ellington. There should be no reinforcement after , and 12 players are enough to rotate in a season. On the back line, Westbrook came on the deal, Nunn, Monk, Ellington signed, and Tucker renewed. Many people think Westbrook is not suitable for the Lakers because he can't shoot and can't play without the ball. In fact, James and Davis have met Westbrook long ago. The three of them discussed how to play next season and were willing to make sacrifices. James and Westbrook both gave up some ball rights, and Davis also played the No. 5 position more. How far the Lakers can go in the end depends on the chemistry of the Big Three.
Nunn can be said to be the poor version of Westbrook, only 26 years old. This season, he averaged 14.6 points and 2.6 assists per game with the Heat, and joined the Lakers for 2 years and $10 million. This signing is very cost-effective. Nunn can play Westbrook's substitute. Malik Monk, averaging 11.7 points per game with the Hornets this season, averaged 2 three-pointers per game, with a shooting percentage of 40.1%. He is only 23 years old and is a reliable shooter with a medium defense level. Ellington is a 33-year-old veteran who once played for the Lakers. This season, he averaged 9.6 points per game with the Pistons and made a three-point shooting percentage of 42.2%. He is a good shooter. The Lakers renewed Tucker's contract for $32 million in three years. It was a bit unexpected. The price was not low. It may be because they felt that Tucker had potential. If they performed poorly, Tucker might be traded out in the medium term.
forwards, James, Anthony, Ariza, Bazemore. The Lakers' forward is too old, Anthony is 37 years old, James and Ariza are both 36 years old, and Bazemore is 32 years old. James' playing time will further drop next season, and with Westbrook, he can rest more; Anthony's defense is not good, so he can only look at his shooting; Ariza and Bazemore used to have good defense, but now they are in poor health.
Insiders: Davis, Howard, Gasol Jr. Davis said he was willing to play the 5th position more, which is also the current trend. Howard has also performed well with the Sixers this season, at least on the franchise and rebounds. Gasol Jr. performed very poorly in the Olympics, and it was a bit surprising that the Lakers renewed his contract.
Although the Lakers' lineup looks luxurious, it actually has many shortcomings. The back line is indeed luxurious, but the forward line is too old and the lack of inside reserves is worrying. In short, the most important thing is the health of the players. If Leonard cannot play next season, the overall strength of the West is not strong. As long as the Lakers stay healthy, it will not be a big problem to reach the finals.
