In the free market, it seems that the Lakers' desire to acquire a backup center has become an open secret. However, the Lakers have had other ideas and are set to abandon traditional centers. Currently, apart from Davis, the Lakers' other frontline players are unable to provide any assistance in critical moments. In the last two games, the Lakers lost due to rebounding issues, suffering two consecutive defeats. After acquiring Finney-Smith, backup center Hayes was clearly benched in the game. Although he started after Davis was injured and absent, his role has been continuously weakened since then. As for Collocco, his playing time is completely gone. In fact, when discussing the trade for Finney-Smith with the Nets, the Lakers wanted to package Sharp as well. According to Lakers beat reporter Anthony Irwin, league sources revealed that during the trade in which the Lakers acquired Finney-Smith, the Lakers inquired about the possibility of obtaining center Sharp but were told that this would require additional draft pick compensation. Therefore, the Lakers turned to Milton. However, it is expected that Pelinka will continue to communicate with the Nets regarding Sharp, so this situation is definitely worth paying attention to. Additionally, the situation with Nick Richards of the Charlotte Hornets is also noteworthy. Deron Sharp averages 19.6 minutes per game this season, scoring 7.3 points, grabbing 6.1 rebounds, and dishing out 1.5 assists, with a shooting percentage of 44.8%, a three-point percentage of 15.0%, and a free throw percentage of 87.0%. In fact, the Lakers have always been interested in the Wizards' starting center,…

The Los Angeles Lakers have recently been in a state of turmoil after completing a major trade, sending D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for two players: Dorian Finney-Smith and Melton. At first glance, the trade seemed quite beneficial, especially in terms of immediate combat effectiveness and defense, where the Lakers have significantly strengthened their lineup. However, there is a problem: Finney-Smith does not seem to plan on staying with the Lakers for long. Media reports suggest that he may opt out of his contract to become a free agent, which has left Lakers fans feeling uneasy. The Lakers had just made a seemingly profitable trade, but now Finney-Smith wants to leave early. Could this trade really turn into a significant loss? To determine whether this trade is a blood-earning or a huge loss, we need to analyze it carefully. Finney-Smith may not be a household name, but his performance on the court is far from ordinary. He is not just a wing player who can shoot three-pointers; he is also an excellent defender. The Lakers managed to acquire him from the Nets, which was a good move, especially considering the need to strengthen their defense. The Lakers have been lacking a stable 3D player in recent years, and Smith fits the bill perfectly. Last season, Finney-Smith averaged 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, with a shooting percentage of 45.9% and a three-point shooting percentage of an impressive 43.5%. His three-point shooting ability is highly desirable. He is like the…

This season, the Lakers' bench averages 24.8 points per game, which is only better than the Knicks' 20.3 points in the league. The lack of offensive firepower from the bench is largely due to the strong offensive performance of the starters, who average 87.2 points per game, second only to the Knicks, Nuggets, Celtics, and Kings. How can the Lakers improve their bench scoring? Currently, the best solution would be to move Reeves back to the bench. On one hand, Reeves can handle the ball and organize the offense; on the other hand, last season when he played off the bench, the Lakers' bench averaged more points than strong teams like the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Celtics. However, with Russell being traded, it's highly unlikely that Reeves will return to the bench. Point One: Development. In the last two games against the Cavaliers and Trail Blazers, Reeves averaged 70 passes, leading the team by a wide margin. It's clear that the Lakers management wants to groom him as the main playmaker. Of course, his average of 10.5 assists in the last two games also shows a certain level of versatility. Point Two: James. With Russell gone and Reeves potentially moving back to the bench, almost all the passing and controlling pressure would fall on James. If he were five years younger, it wouldn't be a problem, but at 40 years old, too much ball handling would definitely be detrimental to conserving energy. When it comes to the Lakers' bench scoring, Knickert is a good choice. Although there are issues with inconsistency,…

As we enter the new year of 2025, the trade deadline for the NBA season is drawing closer. Prior to this deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers, a team under close scrutiny, are planning significant moves. Just a few days ago, the Lakers completed a trade that garnered attention across the league. They traded Russell and others to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for two exceptional role players, Finney-Smith and Milton. This trade marked the beginning of the Lakers' efforts to strengthen their roster this season. Following this, the Lakers will focus on trading for a center to address their last remaining weakness. The Lakers have been in discussions with the Wizards about a trade for center Valanciunas, with a deal framework already largely agreed upon. However, according to recent media reports, negotiations between the Lakers and the Wizards have been temporarily put on hold. The reason for this is that the Wizards are seeking at least a first-round draft pick from the Lakers, a proposal that the Lakers find difficult to accept, leading to a stalemate in negotiations. Despite this, the Lakers have not given up on the possibility of acquiring Valanciunas. A center like Valanciunas, who possesses height and excellent skills, could provide significant assistance to the team. Shortly after media reports revealed the temporary halt in trade talks between the Lakers and the Wizards, negotiations between the two sides were restarted within a day or two. Recently, Michael Scotto, a well-known journalist from Hoopshype, discussed the Lakers' latest developments in his column. "After securing a wing defender like…

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…

Here it is! The Third Giant! Can the Lakers Be Saved? As we all know, the Lakers have finally completed their first trade. They sent out Russell, Lewis, and three second-round picks to acquire Finney-Smith and Milton from the Nets. This trade is widely regarded as a win for the Lakers, with The Athletic giving them an A- rating. Let's start with Russell. Under Redick this season, his starting position has been completely stripped away. His playing time has dropped to 26.3 minutes per game, averaging only 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, with a true shooting percentage of 53.7%. Therefore, it was not surprising that Russell was traded. Compared to the breakout season of Reeves this year, Russell's status in the team has been completely replaced. By trading Russell, the Lakers have further solidified Reeves' position in the team. This season, Reeves has almost played the best season of his career. He has played 27 games for the Lakers so far, starting in all of them, averaging 34.5 minutes per game, scoring 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1 steal, with a shooting percentage of 44.9% + 36.1%, and a true shooting percentage of 58.6%. In comparison, Reeves' stats over the past two years are as follows... 22-23 season: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3.4 assists 23-24 season: 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists This season, his scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals have all set new career highs. Looking at the stats, he is already at an All-Star level. So far this season, he has locked down the…

On January 2nd, Beijing time, the NBA regular season will continue with the Lakers hosting the Trail Blazers at home. The Lakers have recently shown some momentum and made gains in the trade market, acquiring Finney-Smith and Milton. However, they lost their last home game to the league-leading Cavaliers, showing a gap in strength with a score of 110-122. Reeves scored 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists; Davis had 28 points and 13 rebounds; and James contributed 23 points and 7 assists, but they received too little support from their teammates. Currently, the Lakers have a record of 18 wins and 14 losses, ranking seventh in the Western Conference. In the injury report for this game, Davis is listed as questionable due to an ankle sprain, while James is able to play. This season, the Lakers' performance on both offense and defense has not been outstanding, with many statistics ranking in the lower half of the league. They are able to maintain a top-eight position in the West mainly due to the hard power of their star players. Despite being 40 years old, James can still contribute 23.4 points and 8.9 assists; Davis averages 26.1 points and 11.6 rebounds. The new recruits Smith and Milton also need to quickly integrate into the team to provide more assistance. The Trail Blazers have been in decent form recently, winning two out of their last three games, defeating the Jazz and Mavericks. However, they suffered a crushing defeat against the 76ers, losing 103-125. Their outside shooting was poor, making only 8 out…

Smith Asks Lakers for $100 Million Extension Contract, Decides to Opt Out of Contract, Puts Forward a Condition to Redick According to the latest report by journalist Jovan Buha from the "Los Angeles Times," newly traded Lakers small forward Finney-Smith has informed management that he plans to decline his player option at the end of the season and seek a renewal contract worth around $100 million over four years, with the hope of securing a starting position. The Lakers' acquisition of Finney-Smith is expected to aid in their playoff push, as he can significantly alleviate the pressure Davis faces in the paint defensively, allowing LeBron James to focus more on offense. In his debut game with the Lakers, Finney-Smith came off the bench for 20 minutes, contributing only 2 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds, not particularly impressive statistically. However, head coach Redick appreciates his performance on the court and believes he has the ability to switch and defend against opposing centers when necessary. Redick stated that Finney-Smith's defensive execution, physicality, and intensity are all excellent, making him a reliable role player. Redick has assigned Finney-Smith to come off the bench behind Hachimura, often playing alongside James, Davis, and Reeves, and has effectively defended against Jarrett Allen or Mobley while maintaining good foul control, not allowing the Cavaliers many free throw opportunities. It will take time for Finney-Smith to fully integrate into Redick's tactical system, and it will require more games to develop chemistry with James and Davis. Redick also plans to increase Finney-Smith's playing time. However, Finney-Smith is not…

NBA regular season games continued today, with the Brooklyn Nets visiting the Toronto Raptors. Prior to this, the Nets had completed a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, sending out Finney-Smith and Milton in exchange for Russell. This trade was actually driven by the Nets' interest in the Lakers' second-round draft picks, as well as acquiring Russell's expiring contract, with the intention of furthering their rebuilding efforts. For the remainder of this season, the Nets' goal has been to lose in an attractive manner, such as keeping the score close before collapsing in the final quarter, thus losing gracefully and aiming for a higher draft pick in the summer. Today against the Raptors, the Nets followed this strategy, staying competitive through the first three quarters before being overtaken in the fourth. Ultimately, the Nets lost to the Raptors 113-130, successfully accomplishing their task. Yesterday, in the game between the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Finney-Smith and Milton made their debuts, and today Russell also made his return debut with the Nets, performing quite well. Throughout the game, Russell shot 9-for-13, scoring 22 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal, showcasing a comprehensive and impressive performance. Among these, Russell was 2-for-6 from beyond the arc, but he achieved a perfect 7-for-7 on two-point shots, boasting a 100% shooting rate, which was very dominant. This marks the second time Russell has been traded from the Lakers to the Nets, but he isn't particularly saddened by it, as playing for the Nets allows him to pad his stats. Last time,…

Overnight! The Lakers have completed an epic 5-for-2 trade, with James welcoming another super tough player, while Edwards has been fined a total of $240,000 (approximately 1.71 million RMB), and the league has banned as many as 5 players! Text by Lao Kan Kan Qiu Edited by Lao Kan Kan Qiu Since the start of the NBA's 2024-25 regular season, many teams in the league have delivered unexpected performances. For example, the Warriors in the West have seen their rankings fluctuate like a roller coaster, once reaching the top of the West but then falling all the way to 11th, with Kerr's stubbornness drawing controversy. Despite opening the free market and completing the league's first 5-for-2 trade with the Nets, bringing in starting point guard Schroder, the results so far have not been good; additionally, on the Kings' side, after introducing DeRozan this summer, the team's record has not improved but rather declined, with Mike Brown becoming the first head coach to be fired this season; the Pelicans are even worse off, with a losing streak that has dropped them to the bottom of the West, and the management has put Ingram, Zion, and CJ McCollum on the trading block, preparing to embark on a rebuilding path. Therefore, with the opening of the league's free trade market, many teams in the league are eager to explore new trades, addressing internal weaknesses and continuing to chase the championship. Overnight! The Lakers have completed an epic 5-for-2 trade, with James welcoming another super tough player, while Edwards has been fined a total…