The Lakers have maintained a strong momentum this season, despite James' advancing age, with the team firmly in the top five in the West. Especially after trading Russell for D'Angelo Russell, the team's lineup looks more balanced. Now, their biggest weakness lies in the frontcourt, especially after last season's playoff shortcomings, they are more eager to strengthen their frontcourt.
According to Evan Sidery, the Lakers have also started to make moves, with one of the big fish being Bulls starting center Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls, due to their unsatisfactory current record and lack of young talent, have begun dismantling the team and are about to enter a rebuilding phase. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Lakers can make a significant reinforcement.
Vucevic, now 34 years old, has once again played at the second peak of his career this season, with an average of 20.5 points and 10.2 rebounds, a significant improvement over last season. In terms of advanced statistics, on/off values, PER, and offensive efficiency per 100 possessions have reached new highs in five years, making him a pillar of the Bulls this season.
More notably, Vucevic's offensive performance this season is impressive, with a shooting percentage of 55.3% and a three-point shooting percentage as high as 42.4%. Such offensive efficiency and panel data can be compared to super-tier offensive centers like Towns and Jokic.
According to Sidery, the Lakers are willing to offer Kristaps Porzingis, Kendrick Nunn, and a future first-round pick to acquire Vucevic. Compared to what the Bulls gave up to get Vucevic, this is considered a good deal.
If the Lakers can get Vucevic, both James and Davis will benefit greatly. For James, Vucevic is an ideal pick-and-roll partner. Vucevic's shooting percentage in the restricted area has exceeded 65%, with both hands capable of high-quality hook shots, and his three-point shooting has been mentioned earlier, all of which align well with James' offensive initiation habits.
For Davis, he will be freed from the heavy task of frontcourt confrontation, and can even reasonably lose weight to return to his 2020 form. This allows Davis to return to the sweet spot in the mid-range, significantly reducing the risk of injury from confrontations, and the task of protecting rebounds inside will also decrease.
Although many fans criticize Vucevic's defense, overall, he has a greater positive impact, and the Lakers did not give up much in this trade, with a relatively substantial return. If the Lakers can successfully complete this trade, their lineup and offensive space in the playoffs will be significantly enhanced, greatly benefiting their playoff journey.