Just a few days ago, the Los Angeles Lakers completed a major trade, sending D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031) to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Finney-Smith and Milton. This trade has earned widespread acclaim for the Lakers' management and general manager Pelinka, with many believing that the Lakers have achieved substantial reinforcement through this deal. Indeed, the Lakers did not pay a high price; Russell was an expendable player, while Lewis and several second-round draft picks were mere extras in the trade. In return, the Lakers acquired Finney-Smith and Milton, both of whom are strong rotation players with immediate impact, especially Finney-Smith, who can be considered an excellent 3D wing player, a relatively scarce resource in the NBA. This trade is widely regarded as a great bargain for the Lakers. However, in the past two days, media reports suggest that Finney-Smith may enter the free agent market early and is unlikely to stay with the Lakers long-term. According to HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto, although the Lakers hope to keep new recruit Dorian Finney-Smith long-term, early expectations are that Finney-Smith will opt out of his $15.38 million player option for the 2025-26 season to test the free agent market and become a free agent. This season, Finney-Smith's salary is $14.92 million. In his Lakers debut against the Cavaliers, he played 20 minutes, shooting 1 for 4 and 0 for 2 from three-point range, scoring 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Judging from Smith's debut, he did not showcase his strengths. The Lakers are…

The NBA regular season is in full swing, and another game day has come to an end. On this game day, many teams in the West faced off against each other, but many popular teams ultimately lost, causing some subtle changes in the standings. With the current ranking situation showing some changes, let's take a look at the latest rankings in the NBA Western Conference. The Western Conference standings are as follows: Thunder in a league of their own, Lakers still in seventh, Suns on a losing streak at 12th. Ranks 11 to 15 in the standings are the Suns, Kings, Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Pelicans; the rankings and positions of these last five teams have not changed, but there have been some subtle changes. The last three teams can basically be ignored, while the Kings recently won a game with a record of 14 wins and 19 losses, placing them 12th in the standings. The Suns were originally ranked quite high, but they have recently suffered a losing streak. Earlier, they surprisingly lost to a weakened Grizzlies team upon Booker's return, suffering a three-game losing streak with just 15 wins and 17 losses. Currently, they can't even hold onto the 11th spot. In fact, the Suns' problems cannot be solved simply by changing coaches, and the same goes for the Kings. Ranks 5 to 10 in the standings are the Nuggets, Clippers, Lakers, Timberwolves, Spurs, and Warriors; there is a maximum difference of only 2.5 games between these teams. The Warriors have also been losing more than winning recently,…

Paul George left, Leonard has been absent for a long time, the outside world did not look good at the Clippers, but Harden led the team to outstanding results. Everyone is looking forward to Leonard's return, Harden said he participated in joint training, Clippers follow-up reporter revealed that Leonard is expected to return within the next two weeks, he missed this season due to right knee inflammation, after returning, the coach will control his playing time. The Clippers are brewing a major trade with the Jazz, targeting John Collins. Tyronn Lue is optimistic about his partnership with Harden, and owner Ballmer also wants to upgrade the No. 4 position to protect Leonard. The Jazz decided to rebuild, Collins was put on the shelf, the Clippers contacted first, both sides negotiated smoothly. Collins averaged 18.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks this season, with a shooting percentage of 54%, a three-point shooting percentage of 45.3%, and a free throw percentage of 90.1%, making him one of the members of the 180 Club. His excellent performance makes him the Clippers' top choice for recruitment. But the Clippers signing Collins may come at a cost, as many teams are interested, and the Jazz will negotiate with multiple parties. Although the Clippers have quality chips, there is still competition. If Collins joins forces with Harden and Leonard, the Clippers have a chance to win the championship. What do you think? Welcome to leave a message and comment!

The NBA Storm: Curry's Decline and the Struggling Warriors Introduction: Why are the superstars not performing anymore? The NBA has some explosive news! Hey, basketball fans! The NBA is the most passionate place in our hearts as sports enthusiasts. The intense collisions on the court and the super performances of the stars always get us so excited that our hearts race. But now, the league situation has changed dramatically, becoming a fierce competition among many teams, with old stars and new faces playing together. However, there is something surprising to tell you all: although the popularity still focuses on the established stars like James, Curry, and Durant, there are many problems on the court! The game pace is so fast that it feels like the wind is blowing, everyone relies on shooting for points, the physical confrontations are soft, lacking strength, and the entertainment value is dropping rapidly. Even the dunk contest and the All-Star Game are getting worse year by year, which is really boring to watch. Today, let's focus on the legendary superstar Curry, how did he fall from the sky to the "ground," and how did the Warriors, who looked so powerful, become shaky and about to sink? There are many suspenseful moments, follow me to take a look! I. The Twilight of the Old Stars: Behind the Glamour Lies Trouble (1) James: Still Super Strong at Forty James entered the league in 03 and just turned 40. He is undoubtedly a "veteran" in the league. On the court, he can still average 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds,…

NBA regular season, the Lakers defeated the Blazers 114-106. The Lakers trailed in the first quarter, but they turned the tide in the second quarter. However, there was a power outage in the fourth quarter when they had a big lead, fortunately, James returned to the court and managed to stabilize the score, eventually securing the victory. Three players had excellent performances throughout the game. James is crucial for the Lakers, as evidenced by the consecutive points they lost during his rest period in the fourth quarter, proving him to be the team's absolute pillar. James scored 38 points and provided 8 assists, displaying an aggressive performance. Rivers also played well, although his shooting percentage was a bit low, his penetration and distribution have become an indispensable part of the team. Moreover, each of his passes greatly motivated his teammates, and he impressed everyone in this game. Christie remained a focal point. Especially in the fourth quarter, he was able to capitalize on James and Rivers' passes, and Christie could also dribble and create damage, which allowed him to score 28 points in the entire game, becoming a key factor in securing the victory for the team in the decisive period. Hayes, Koloko, Smith, Reddish, and Milton all had passable performances. Hayes and Koloko held their ground under the basket. Since Davis did not play in this game, they combined to grab 14 rebounds and performed well defensively. At the same time, Smith's control of the defense was excellent, consistently maintaining perfect help defense, making him the most critical point…

Lakers and Nets Make a Big Trade! Could the Western Conference Landscape Change?‌ Wow! The Lakers and Nets Have Done Something Really Amazing On December 30th, Beijing time, the NBA arena was buzzing with excitement as the Lakers and Nets completed a trade. This was a huge deal, like a quiet pond suddenly being disturbed by a large stone thrown in, causing splashes everywhere. The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, while the Nets received D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks from the Lakers (2027, 2030, 2031). Why did these two teams go through such a hassle to swap players? There's a lot to unpack, so let's dive into it. Can "The Fan" Make the Lakers Great Again?‌ Let's start with Finney-Smith, who everyone calls "The Fan." This season, he averages 10.6 points per game, grabs 4.6 rebounds, and dishes out 1.6 assists, with a high three-point shooting percentage of 43.5%. Impressive stats, right? And his skills in perimeter defense and switching are top-notch. However, some experts initially worried that he might not be very useful for the Lakers. But upon closer inspection, this concern is unwarranted. Why? Because he's different from Westbrook, who needs the ball in his hands when playing. "The Fan" doesn't hog the ball, making him a good fit for the Lakers' style of play. He can both defend and open up space for three-point shots, which is like upgrading the wheels on a car, making it run smoother. Milton Isn't Here to Mess Around!‌ Now let's look at Shake Milton, who averages 7.4…

On January 3rd, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued as the Portland Trail Blazers visited the Los Angeles Lakers. The game started with both teams exchanging leads, with the score remaining close until the second quarter. The Blazers' offense stalled, allowing the Lakers to seize the opportunity and win the quarter by a margin of 13 points. At halftime, the Lakers had established a 9-point lead. In the second half, the Lakers continued their momentum, extending the lead to double digits. In the final quarter, the Blazers, led by Simmons, attempted a comeback, but the Lakers, under the leadership of LeBron James, maintained control of the game, denying the Blazers any chance of a reversal. Ultimately, the Lakers narrowly defeated the Blazers with a score of 114-106. This was the first back-to-back game for the Lakers, with Anthony Davis strategically resting due to injury. Hayes returned to save the day, and the Lakers played with speed and passion under the coordination of LeBron James and Reeves, far surpassing the Blazers in terms of overall performance. Throughout the game, the Lakers outscored the Blazers in fast-break points 26-12 and capitalized on the Blazers' 18 turnovers to score 24 points. In contrast, the Lakers only turned the ball over 12 times, allowing the Blazers to score just 14 points off turnovers. The Blazers fought individually, but the combined efforts of Simmons, Avdija, Kali, and Henderson were not enough to shake the Lakers. Without Davis, the Lakers won so easily, with LeBron James, Reeves, and Christie each playing their roles effectively, united…

Here are the top 10 best players under 25 in the NBA, as ranked by ESPN: Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets) Sengun is 22 years old and was the 16th pick in the 2021 draft. He became the MVP of the Turkish League at 19, which caught the attention of the Houston Rockets. Despite not having great athleticism, Sengun has high basketball IQ and excellent skills, earning him a spot as the team's first core player under coach Stephen Silas. This season, he has a chance to make the All-Star team with an average of 19 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1 block per game. Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder) Williams is 23 years old and was the 12th pick in the 2023 draft. His rise to prominence was unexpected, but it speaks to the Oklahoma City Thunder's keen eye for talent. As one of the "Thunder Three," Williams is an all-around player with strong offensive and defensive capabilities. His athleticism is impressive, and his unselfish play style makes him an ideal second-in-command. This season, he averages 21.2 points, 6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) Mobley is 23 years old and was the third pick in the 2021 draft. He may be underrated in this ranking, as he sacrifices his offensive stats for the team's benefit. However, his contributions on defense are significant, with excellent sweeping defense abilities. Under his leadership, the Cleveland Cavaliers have climbed to the top of the league this season. Mobley averages 18.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.9…

Recently, the NBA trading market has been buzzing again, with everyone naturally most concerned about the future of LeBron James. It's being said that the Warriors have once again set their sights on James, with reports even suggesting that they are seriously considering a trade with the Lakers. Can you imagine how eagerly fans are awaiting such an event? The question is, does James actually want to leave? Or is it simply that he loves Los Angeles too much, unwilling to part with its sunshine and the warmth of his family? This is quite the conundrum. Let's start with the Warriors' stance. As we all know, the Warriors have been in the limelight these past few years, with Curry's leadership unquestionable. However, deep down, they always felt that having just one superstar like Curry wasn't enough. You see, Curry has reached his peak, but if they want to make another championship run, they still feel they're missing someone who can play hard and fight. Who could be more capable of playing hard and fighting than James? Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Bob Myers have already started planning, hoping to secure James and form a super duo with Curry and James. Together, they would not only ensure an invincible offensive front but also bring full firepower defensively. Most importantly, the chemistry between Curry and James is well-known, akin to their partnership in the Olympics, which was truly a match made in heaven. To this end, the Warriors are not afraid to spend big, preparing to offer potential young players…

The NBA regular season game between the Rockets and the Mavericks at the Rockets' home court was a thrilling encounter. The Rockets started passively but turned the game around with Whitmore's explosive performance, eventually securing a decisive victory. This showcased their ability to win without relying on a single core player, highlighting the impressive growth of the young team. In the second quarter, the Rockets unleashed an astonishing offensive surge that dramatically changed the course of the game. Whitmore's performance during this phase was particularly eye-catching, scoring 13 points in various ways in a single quarter. His burst of energy completely dismantled the Mavericks' defensive system. The Rockets have displayed unexpected resilience this season, maintaining their rhythm even after losing key rotational player Amen Thompson. Their depth advantage was evident in the match against the Mavericks. The Mavericks faced significant issues, with Doncic's absence making their offense quite one-dimensional. While Irving maintained his excellent individual offensive capabilities, the team struggled when he was heavily guarded, leading to offensive stagnation. The Rockets initially seemed passive, with consecutive missed shots raising concerns about a continuation of their previous slump. However, Green's breakthrough layup injected a strong dose of confidence into the team. Shen Jing's performance in the game was both surprising and delightful. His accurate shooting in the first half left a deep impression, although his performance dipped in the second half. Overall, it was still a commendable game. The Mavericks' perimeter did make a small comeback in the final moments, with Thompson and Dinwiddie's consecutive three-pointers giving a glimmer of hope.…