The Lakers have been making a lot of trades recently. They first traded Russell for two good helpers, Smith and Milton, and now they are eyeing Valanciunas, which has attracted attention from the entire league and made fans restless.
The Lakers' management has really invested heavily this time. Many people felt it was a loss when Russell was sent away, but the two players, Smith and Milton, have indeed brought new energy to the team, especially Smith's defense, which is like putting a net over the opponents' heads, and Milton's breakthroughs are also fierce.
Russell's time with the Lakers was not very comfortable. His shooting accuracy fluctuated, and he was hesitant to take key shots, which almost drove the coaching staff crazy. In the end, he could only sit on the bench and watch others play. In this situation, trading him away was actually a win-win decision.
After Smith arrived, the team's defensive intensity increased significantly. Opponents' scorers were troubled by him, and his three-point shooting was particularly accurate. This made the Lakers' offense more three-dimensional, and opponents dared not easily double-team James and Davis.
Although Milton is not very famous, he plays very smartly, with fast break speed and accurate shooting. He is willing to step up in critical moments, which is particularly important in the playoffs.
The Lakers' strength has indeed improved significantly after this trade, but the management is apparently not satisfied. They now have their sights set on Valanciunas, who has performed quite well with the Wizards.
Valanciunas has a distinctive playing style, with diverse offensive moves under the basket and an excellent hook shot. His height and long arms give him a clear advantage in the paint. If he could come to the Lakers, it would indeed solve many problems.
The Wizards are asking for a first-round pick, which is honestly a bit high. After all, first-round picks in the NBA are as valuable as gold, and everyone wants to keep them for themselves. It's normal for the Lakers to hesitate.
The Lakers are now planning to trade a second-round pick and Vincent for Valanciunas, which is an interesting idea. Vincent has been in great form recently, with particularly accurate three-point shooting, and his trade value has increased significantly.
Vincent suddenly stopped playing games these days, which often means a trade is about to be completed in the NBA. It was the same before Russell was traded, so fans are speculating that a new trade may be coming soon.
The Lakers' operation this time is actually quite risky. They are taking out their future draft picks to exchange for immediate combat power, which shows that they really want to go all out this season and try to win another championship.
Vincent had a hard time with the Lakers before, always getting injured, with poor form, shockingly low shooting accuracy, and many turnovers. Fans had a lot of opinions about him, thinking he was just there to collect a salary.
But recently, Vincent suddenly came into his own, with particularly accurate three-point shooting and increasingly confident performance on the court. The coaching staff's attitude towards him has changed, giving him more playing time.
Vincent's improvement in form comes at a particularly opportune moment, coinciding with the trade window period. This gives the Lakers an extra card at the negotiating table, allowing them to use him to trade for a player who is more suitable for the team.
The Lakers are so active in the trade market this time because they want to seize the opportunity while James and Davis are still in their prime and win another championship. They are willing to sacrifice some future development opportunities to take a chance in the present.
Every move the team makes is very targeted, first strengthening perimeter defense and shooting, and now wanting a reliable inside player. All of these are to perform better in the playoffs.
The Lakers' management has really gone all out this time. They know that opportunities are rare, and James is getting older, so they must seize this opportunity, which is why they are particularly proactive in the trade market.
This all-in attitude is actually quite touching. After all, not every team is willing to sacrifice future development for the championship. This time, the Lakers have really put all their chips on the table.
The entire league is now paying attention to the Lakers' actions. Every trade they make triggers a lot of discussion, and fans are guessing what will happen next. This atmosphere makes this season particularly interesting.
The competition in the trade market is actually more intense than the confrontation on the court. Each team is calculating their gains and losses and wants to get more benefits in this process.
Regardless of whether the Lakers' operation is successful or not in the end, it has already added many highlights to this season and made the entire league more exciting.