After consecutive losses to the Rockets and Mavericks, the Lakers' record stands at 20 wins and 16 losses. Although they remain in the top six in the Western Conference, there is not much of a gap between them and the teams behind, such as the Timberwolves, Clippers, Warriors, Spurs, and Kings, who could easily overtake them. Even if the Lakers manage to make it to the playoffs, they may struggle against stronger opponents. General Manager Pelinka has bolstered the team's strength by bringing in the Nets' quality 3D player, Finney-Smith, but his arrival does not solve the Lakers' chronic problems. With James' age increasing, he can no longer keep up with the high-intensity offensive and defensive transitions throughout the game, and Davis also needs help to share the burden.
Recently, American media outlet BR suggested that the Lakers' management should go all out for the NBA championship this season, with General Manager Pelinka considering the 76ers' All-Star small forward Paul George as the primary target for recruitment. George is unhappy in Philadelphia; he signed a four-year, $212 million contract last summer, but his performance this season has been significantly below expectations. The 76ers' management is worried that George could become the next Beal, and even if the Suns offer their first-round draft pick, no team seems willing to take him on, so it's not out of the question that he could be sent away this season.
Here are the details of the proposed trade:
- The Lakers send Austin Reeves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt, and their 2029 first-round pick to receive Paul George and Aaron Holiday.
- The Rockets send Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green, and their 2025 first-round pick from the Suns to receive Austin Reeves.
- The Suns send Jusuf Nurkic and their 2030 second-round pick to receive Rui Hachimura.
- The 76ers send Paul George to receive Gabe Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt, Jeff Green, Jusuf Nurkic, two future first-round picks, and one future second-round pick.
For the Lakers, Paul George is a player worth investing in. As a representative of the league's two-way players, he has almost no weaknesses. This season, due to injuries, his playing time has been irregular, and his average statistics have declined somewhat. However, he can still contribute an all-around performance of 16.5 points, 8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in an average of 32.1 minutes. George's addition can alleviate the pressure on James offensively, allowing him more rest time. Defensively, both George and Finney-Smith possess strong individual defensive capabilities, which can significantly improve the Lakers' overall defensive efficiency.
The Suns, due to poor performance, have benched Bill and Nurkic, causing strong dissatisfaction among the two. Nurkic's worrying form, coupled with his slow mobility, makes him a liability in keeping up with the Suns' pace of play, leading to his marginalization by coach Budenholzer. This season, Hachimura has entered the Lakers' starting lineup with fiery form, averaging 32.3 minutes per game, scoring 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, with a three-point shooting rate of 41.4%. His addition could further enhance the Suns' shooting ability.
For the Rockets, Reeves is a talented combo guard full of flair and creativity on the court. With the Rockets' starting point guard VanVleet performing inconsistently and backup point guard Sheppard being demoted to the developmental league Vipers, Reeves' addition could alleviate the pressure on the Rockets in terms of organizing and scoring.
All opinions are based on authoritative American media and are for reference only. Click to follow and be the first to receive updates.