Shams: The Lakers have signed a new center...
Wow, is it Vucevic or Valanciunas bringing their talents to Los Angeles?
Actually, no, the Lakers have signed former Pelicans player Trey Jamison with a two-way contract. He is 25 years old, stands at 2.11 meters tall, and has averaged 2.4 points and 2.8 rebounds (1.4 offensive rebounds) this season so far.
Regardless, Jamison's arrival has bolstered the Lakers' frontcourt depth, even if it's just to share some of the load for Anthony Davis, who has been averaging 34.9 minutes per game this season, scoring 25.9 points, grabbing 11.9 rebounds, dishing out 3.5 assists, making 1.3 steals, and blocking 2.1 shots.
To make room for Jamison, the Lakers waived two-way contract guard Olivari, who averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists during his time with the G League's South Bay Lakers this season, with a three-point shooting percentage of 40.6%. He only played in two regular-season games, averaging 5 minutes and scoring 1.5 points with 0.5 assists.
It's worth noting that Olivari is an endorser for Curry Brand, so the Warriors?
Just kidding.
Olivari is 23 years old and stands at 1.91 meters tall. After being waived by the Lakers, he has attracted interest from multiple teams in the free market and is expected to return to the NBA soon.
As for the Lakers' situation, they currently rank 7th in the West with a record of 20 wins and 17 losses. They have recently suffered a three-game losing streak, allowing over 110 points per game, and most recently allowed the Spurs to score a whopping 126 points. Head coach Redick criticized the team for having no one to protect the paint inside.
Big defeats have been the norm for the Lakers this season, with an average margin of defeat of up to 15.5 points per loss. There have already been seven games with a deficit of more than 20 points, while in the previous two seasons under Ham's coaching, they only lost six games with a margin of more than 20 points.
According to statistics, the Lakers' defensive efficiency this season is 115.7, ranking 24th in the league, which is a poor level. They must be anxious about this and should make targeted reinforcements, taking advantage of the upcoming trade deadline.
Being a Lakers fan can be both surprising and disappointing at times, and those without strong mental fortitude might find themselves easily overwhelmed!