During the offseason, the operations of the Los Angeles Lakers have attracted much attention. Although they have limited chips, as the most influential "rich team" of NBA, outside public opinion has always had illusions about their "recovery" in the new season, and they will change owners. Coaching, adjusting the lineup, drafting new players, etc. are all preparations made by the management for the new season.
However, these operations are a drop in the bucket for the future of the Lakers. The entire Lakers are still facing a deadlock. Obviously, transactions involving Westbrook have always been a worry for Lakers fans.
It is reported that Westbrook has chosen to execute the $47.1 million player option for next season.
Judging from the current situation, Westbrook may continue to play for the Lakers for the last year. One thing to say is that this is actually something that everyone in the outside world expected. After all, this may be a cliff-like decline in status. This is the last generous contract in Westbrook's career, and he naturally wants to seize it.
However, in this way, Westbrook is "comfortable", but the Lakers have an even bigger headache. Because of last season's failure, they no longer have many ideas about trading Westbrook. All they can do is Constantly making offers to other teams, "a dead horse is a living horse doctor".
Westbrook's deal is at a deadlock, the Lakers have no way to influence it.
In fact, according to Lakers team reporter Jovan, league sources revealed that although a trade for Westbrook is still possible, the Lakers are actually already planning what should happen when Westbrook is on the team's roster in the new season. arranged.
In other words, they also believe that trading away Westbrook is already impossible.
Objectively speaking, after the "torture" of last season, the Lakers have completely given up on Westbrook. They only have two requirements for trading Westbrook, that is - first, they are willing to accept Westbrook, and second, they do not require them Give away a future first-round pick (2027 or 2029), and that’s it.
For the Lakers, Westbrook is already a "junk contract". His existence is not only worthless but also blocks the team's "reinforcement space." The huge salary makes it impossible for the Lakers to sign some thousands of players. With 10,000-level players, in the end, they can only choose some basic salary to fill the roster.
Obviously, because Westbrook's performance last season was too tragic, and at the same time, his contract amount is too huge, basically no team is willing to take him away for free.
Based on this, the Lakers once again lowered their requirements.
This time, they are willing to pay draft picks in a trade plan involving Westbrook, as long as the other party can provide sufficient returns (such as an All-Star who is in the trouble stage, or multiple starting-level players), but even so, Westbrook is still no one interested.
Even the "win-win" plan proposed by the Lakers for the Pacers during the reconstruction period was directly abandoned by the other party. The sentence "We have a more promising choice" directly choked the Lakers speechless.
It seems that Westbrook will still be a member of the Lakers at the beginning of training camp. Then, the next step is to test the level of the Lakers' new coach Dalvin Hamm. Can he establish a connection with Westbrook and complete some Vogel failed to accomplish the feat, such as properly integrating him with James and Davis .
The Lakers failed quite a bit last season. This was due to Westbrook’s persistence. In this lineup, he had to make a certain degree of sacrifice. So, whether he can do this in the new season will affect to the final result.
Of course, from a practical perspective, the Lakers' most sensible choice is to take a chance on the free market rather than placing their hopes on trading Westbrook.
Now the Lakers should make it clear that the way they have the best chance to change the lineup is no longer to trade Westbrook, but to go to the free agent market to buy some high-quality wing players to fill the lineup, and stop constantly recruiting guards like last season. , a tall lineup can at least bring some help to James.
It would be wise for the Lakers to sign players such as Stanley and try to select some strikers.
The worst thing the Lakers management did last season was not just trading Westbrook, but signing a large number of short guards was also an incomprehensible operation.
Last season, the Lakers were in a situation of "unable to attack and unable to defend". The problem of the lineup's size occupies the main responsibility. The serious loss of rebounds gave opponents a constant stream of opportunities for second offense. For , the Timberwolves , For the Grizzlies' aggressive rebounding team, there is almost no pressure at all against the Lakers.
According to reporter Jovan, league sources revealed that the Lakers are expected to execute the contracts of Stanley Johnson ($2.4 million), Wenyen Gabriel ($1.6 million) and Austin Reeves ($1.6 million). Team option for next season.
In other words, these three players will stay with the Lakers.
Obviously, the Lakers have finally done something that is more satisfactory to the outside world. The only bright spot of the Lakers last season was that several role players played well. Except for Monk, who demanded a high salary, and could not be retained, such as Stan Players with minimum salaries such as Leigh, Gabriel and Reeves should be signed quickly.
Stanley also had an offensive performance of "always hitting every shot" in the regular season. Although this cannot be maintained on a regular basis, on the defensive end, he also used his outstanding size and good explosive power to cause certain interference to his opponents, which greatly It relieved James' pressure.
Gabriel has made full use of his tall body and excellent jumping to help the Lakers. He cooperates well with Westbrook, James and others. At least he is capable of "dunking under the basket to eat pie", and, He is also quite active on the defensive end and has a certain ability to block shots. However, being too easy to get caught is a problem.
All in all, he came on as a substitute and helped the team's inside support for 10-15 minutes, which was more than enough.
Reeves should be the Lakers' biggest gain last season. This rookie who would rather lose the draft than join the Lakers is indeed a "raw gem". Although he does not have a stable enough scoring method, his enthusiasm and occasional aura A flash is enough to make people feel his potential.
If the Lakers continue to give him opportunities, he can at least become a good rotation guard in the future.
All in all, the retention of these three players is good news.
A closer look shows that as of now, the team's total salary has reached US$150.8 million. The Lakers have a total of 8 players with guaranteed contracts next season - Westbrook, LeBron James , Anthony Davis , Kendrick Nunn , Tucker , Johnson, Reeves, Gabriel.
In addition, second-round pick Max Christie selected by the Lakers and mid-level exception signee (approximately $6.5 million per year) are also expected to occupy salary space.
Rookie players can only play a limited role. In addition, the Lakers' reinforcements also need to be developed on the wings and inside.
In terms of defenders, Westbrook, Nunn, Tucker and others are enough to support the scene; in terms of forwards, James and Stanley will support them; as for the inside, there are too few people, Anthony Davis and Gabriel It may not be enough to play a full season.
According to Lakers team reporter Jovan, league sources revealed that with less than 48 hours until the free market opens, the Lakers have focused their signings on introducing wing players with both offense and defense.
Most of the hypothetical signings for their luxury-tax team's mini-mid-level contracts focus on signing one or two wings who can start next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Using some basic salary and mid-level exceptions to sign some wing players will be a huge improvement for the Lakers, and will be more in line with James' development. At least after James scores on the offensive end, they will not let up on the defensive end because of consecutive rebounds. The opponent attacks the penalty area unscrupulously.
In short, if the Lakers understand that a player with proper three-point ability and multi-position defensive ability can help strengthen the lineup of James, Davis, and Westbrook, then the Lakers can still be saved.
If the Lakers had a player like this last season, at least their defensive end would not be so dismal.
You must know that when the three of them played on the same court last season, the team outscored their opponents by 3.0 points per 100 possessions. What they lost was just poor defensive end.
Objectively speaking, even if the Lakers rely on this lineup to play for another year, as long as their final quota can bring some suitable candidates, they may still hit the playoffs .
Next, it depends on the management’s signing.
